Fig. 3

HOXB7 promoted EMT to enhance the migration and invasion of hepatoma cells. a Knockdown of HOXB7 inhibited the migration and invasion of SMMC-7721 cells; cell counting showed that invasion and migration were evidently inhibited by knockdown of HOXB7 in SMMC-7721 cells (P < 0.001, respectively). b Overexpression of HOXB7 facilitated HepG2 cell migration and invasion (P < 0.001, respectively). All images were taken under × 100 magnification. c, d Wound healing assay was used to examine the effect of HOXB7 on SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells migration. Both figures revealed that HOXB7 promoted hepatoma cells migration. e HOXB7 reduced the expression of E-cadherin and up-regulated the expression of N-cadherin, Vimentin, α-SMA, MMP2 and MMP9 in SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells, respectively. f Changes of cell morphology after overexpression of HOXB7