An EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (Tyrphostin AG1478) blocks the effect of EGFL7 on EGFR phosphorylation, AKT phosphorylation, and cell motility.

<p>(A) Western blots showing that expression of EMT-related proteins changed significantly in BGC823 and MKN28-EGFL7 cells after treatment with the EGFR inhibitor Tyrphostin AG1478 (20 µM) for 1 h compared to vehicle (0.25% DMSO). E-cadherin protein expression levels increased in BGC823 and MKN28-EGFL7 cells after Tyrphostin AG1478 treatment, while expression levels of the mesenchymal marker proteins vimentin and Snail decreased. pEGFR and pAKT expression levels were significantly lower in BGC823 and MKN28-EGFL7 cells treated with Tyrphostin AG1478 than in BGC823 and MKN28-EGFL7 cells treated with 0.25% DMSO. No changes in EGFL7 protein expression levels were observed in BGC823 and MKN28-EGFL7 cells after treatment with Tyrphostin AG1478. (B) Migration of BGC823 and MKN28-EGFL7 cells was inhibited by Tyrphostin AG1478 treatment in the scratch wound assay (79% <i>vs.</i> 49%, *<i>P</i><0.05; 97% <i>vs.</i> 26%, **<i>P</i><0.05). (C) Tyrphostin AG1478 also reduced migration in the transwell assay (37±3.9 <i>vs.</i> 18±1.5, *<i>P</i><0.05; 58±3.7 <i>vs.</i> 15±4.0, **<i>P</i><0.05; vehicle-treated <i>vs.</i> Tyrphostin AG1478-treated).