Homeobox B9 Promotes the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via TGF-β1/Smad and ERK1/2 Signaling Pathways

Figure 4

Effects of HOXB9 on cell proliferation and cell cycle, in vitro. (a–b) RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect HOXB9 expression in BEL-7405 cells transfected with pBabe or HOXB9, respectively. (c–d) RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect HOXB9 expression in HepG2 cells transfected with pSuper or shHOXB9, respectively. (e–f) BEL-7405 or HepG2 cell proliferation after the expression of HOXB9 was downregulated or upregulated, respectively, as assessed by MTT assay. (g) Colony formation assay was used to cell proliferation after overexpression of HOXB9 in BEL-7405 cells. (h) Colony formation assay was used to cell proliferation after knockdown of HOXB9 in HepG2 cells. (i–j) flow cytometry was used to determine the changes of cell cycle of BEL-7405-pBabe or BEL-7405-pBabe-HOXB9 cells. (k–l) flow cytometry was used to determine the changes of cell cycle of HepG2-pSuper or HepG2-shHOXB9 cells. vs. BEL-7405-pBabe; vs. HepG2-pSuper.

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