Overexpression of Egr1 induces MMP-9 activation, cell invasion and cell migration of HCC cells.

The effect of Egr1 on the cell invasion of HCC cell lines were examined using SNU-449 transiently transfected with pCMV-6-AC-GFP Egr1 overexpression vector (8A). Equal amounts of wild type and Egr1 overexpressing SNU-449 cells were used for migration (8B) and invasion (8C) assay in the presence and absence of HGF. Results are expressed as fold differences of matrigel invaded cells. Zymographic gel showing the active MMP-9 bands in 24 h conditioned medium of cultured Egr1-overexpressing SNU-449 cells (8D). The graph compares the signal intensities obtained from zymography gels.