Fig. 4

PPARγ silencing enhances lung cancer cell aggressiveness via VEGF-A/BCL-2-mediated suppression of apoptosis. a Representative images of A549 cells treated with PPARγ siRNAs and co-stained for PPARγ (green) and VEGF-A (red) (scale bar, 50 μm). b Representative images of A549 cells treated with PPARγ siRNAs and stained for BCL-2 (green) (scale bar, 50 μm). c and d PPARγ siRNAs (#1 and #2) decreased PPARγ, but increased VEGF-A and BCL-2, respectively. e A faster proliferation rate in PPARγ-silenced cells compared with controls. f More Ki-67 positive proliferative cells (green) in PPARγ-silenced cells (scale bar, 100 μm). g Increased number of invaded PPARγ-silenced cells compared with controls (scale bar, 100 μm). h Longer migrated distance in PPARγ-silenced cells at indicated time points. i Increased colonies in PPARγ-silenced cells at 48 hours time point. j Decreased apoptotic cells (8.8 and 8.6 %) compared with controls (11.9 %). k Decreased apoptotic rate in PPARγ-silenced cells (scale bar, 100 μm). l No effect of PPARγ siRNAs on the level of miR-130b. NT siRNA: non-targeting small interference RNA; TUNEL, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated uridine 5’-triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling. Each bar represents the mean ± SD. Results are representative of three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, #p < 0.001