To investigate the effects of HIF-1α on metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer and its mechanism in vitro and in vivo.

Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of HIF-1αin normal paracancer tissues (Normal), lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), A549 celland HEB cell. HIF-1α expression was upregulated, and the effects of overexpression of HIF-1α on the proliferation, invasion, and EMT of A549 cells were detected by MTT, cell invasion, and Western blot. HIF-1α expression was down-regulated, ERK and p-ERK protein expressions in A549 cells were detected by Western blot. After THBQactivated the MAPK/ERK pathway, the proliferation, invasion and EMT abilities of A549 cells were analyzed. Cell lines were implanted into nude mice to construct a xenograft model. And the volume and weight of the xenograft tumor were measured.

HIF-1α expression in non-small cell lung cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues(P<0.05). The expression level of HIF-1α in A549 cells was significantly higher than that in HEB cells(P<0.01). Overexpression of HIF-1α promoted the proliferation and invasion of A549 cells, and the expression level of N-cadherin protein is significantly increased, while that of E-cadherin is significantly decreased. Down-regulation of HIF-1α inhibited the MAPK/ERK pathway in A549 cells and inhibited the proliferation, invasion and EMT of A549 cells. Downregulation of HIF-1α significantly reduced the weight and volume of transplanted tumors in nude mice.

Silencing HIF-1α inhibited metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer in vivo and in vitro via the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.