Matrine induces hepatocellular carcinoma apoptosis and represses EMT and stemness through microRNA-299-3p/PGAM1 axis.

This study explored the impacts of matrine on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell growth, metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and stemness through regulating the microRNA / () axis. The association between expression with the prognosis of HCC patients was studied. and sequences were transfected into matrine-treated HCC cells, and cell proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, and stemness were detected, as well as protein expression of EMT- and stemness-related makers. The targeting relationship between and was identified. Matrine elevated expression, repressed proliferation, invasion, and anti-apoptosis of HCC cells, and constrained EMT and stemness . was a target of . Repression of rescued the effects of downregulation on HCC cells. Matrine stimulates HCC cell apoptosis and represses the process of EMT and stemness through the / axis.