Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship of hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase 2B1 (SULT2B1) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), exploring its possible mechanisms. Methods cells were divided into three groups: control group, negative control siRNA group and SULT2B1-siRNA group. LipofectamineTM 2000 was employed for transient transfection. The SULT2B1 interference efficiency in treated BEL-7402 cells was detected by real-time PCR and western blot assays respectively. The protein levels of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), vimentin and transcriptional factor ZEB1 in BEL-7402 cells with SULT2B1 interference were determined by western blot analysis. Results The mRNA and protein levels of SULT2B1 in treated BEL-7402 cells were decreased significantly as compared with the negative control group (P< 0.05). The protein level of ZO-1 was up-regulated significantly (P<0.05), while vimentin and the transcriptional factor ZEB1 were decreased in BEL-7402 cells with SULT2B1 interference (P<0.05),. Conclusion SULT2B1 interference can inhibit the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of BEL-7402 cells by down-regulating transcriptional factor ZEB1.

Key words: Key words: hepatocellular carcinoma, hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases 2B1, epithelial- mesenchymal transition, ZEB1