Research Paper Volume 12, Issue 14 pp 14391—14405

Figure 7. STAT3 promotes HCC development by increasing DDR1 in nude mice. Stable STAT3 or NC transfected SNU-182 cells were constructed (A) (n = 4, *p<0.05), and were subcutaneously injected into the right flanks of the nude mice. 1 week later, we injected lentivirus packaged si-DDR1 into tumors. (B) Tumor weight was calculated (n = 4, *p<0.05). (C) Immunohistochemical staining for Ki67 (n = 4, *p<0.05 vs NC, ^#p<0.05 vs STAT3). (D) Western blot analysis for DDR1 protein expression (n = 4, *p<0.05 vs NC, ^#p<0.05 vs STAT3). qRT-PCR (E) and western blot (F) for EMT related genes expression: Vimentin, N-cadherin and E-cadherin (n = 4, *p<0.05 vs NC, ^#p<0.05 vs STAT3). (G) Western blot analysis for protein expression of glutamine metabolism related genes: GLUD1, GLS1 and SLC1A (n = 4, *p<0.05 vs NC, ^#p<0.05 vs STAT3). (H) Stable STAT3 or NC transfected SNU-182 cells was intraperitoneally injected into mice, and lentivirus packaged si-DDR1 was injected into mice through tail vein 3 days later. Lungs were taken out and tumor numbers were calculated 4 weeks later.