Fig. 3

The functional analysis of UPF1 in HCC cells. a UPF1 mRNA level was detected in HCCLM9 and Huh7 cells after treatment with UPF1-siRNA and pCDNA3.1-UPF1 by RT-qPCR. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01 (b) Flow cytometry was applied to examine the apoptosis of HCCLM9 and Huh7 cells after treatment with pCDNA3.1-UPF1 and stained with apoptosis markers (FITC-Annexin V and PI). In the apoptosis map, FITC-Annexin V⁺/PI⁺ indicates late apoptosis, FITC-Annexin V⁺/PI⁻ indicates early apoptosis, and FITC-Annexin V⁻/PI⁻ indicates normal live cells. *p < 0.05 (c) Flow cytometry analysis showing significant decreases of cells in the S- phase, when UPF1 was silenced in HCCLM9 and Huh7 cells. d The ability of cancer cell invasion and migration was measured by using transwell and wound-healing assays when UPF1 was silenced in HCCLM9 and Huh7 cells (Transwell [original magnification, ×200]; wound-healing assays [original magnification, ×100]). e The ability of cancer cell invasion and migration was measured by using transwell and wound-healing assays when UPF1 was overexpressed in HCCLM9 and Huh7 cells (Transwell [original magnification, ×200]; wound-healing assays [original magnification, ×100]). f CCK-8 and assay showing that overexpression of UPF1 inhibited the proliferation of HCCLM9 and Huh7 cells. *p < 0.05