Fig. 6

The CXCL5/CXCR2 axis contributes to the EMT of NPC cells by activating ERK/GSK-3β/Snail signalling. a GSK-3β participated in the CXCL5/CXCR2 axis-induced EMT of NPC cells. b Luciferase reporter assays were performed with the indicated stable transfected cells. The transcriptional activity of the ERK1/2 pathway was enhanced predominantly when both proteins in the CXCL5/CXCR2 axis were overexpressed. c Western blot analysis showed that CXCL5/CXCR2 together induces hyperactivity of ERK1/2 signalling, which is necessary for the EMT. d ERK1/2 signalling is necessary for the invasiveness of NPC cells that is induced by the CXCL5/CXCR2 axis. e The CXCL5/CXCR2 axis contributes to the EMT of NPC cells by activating ERK/GSK-3β/Snail signalling. f Schematic representation of the major molecular mechanism of the induction of the EMT in NPC cells by the CXCL5/CXCR2 axis. These experiments were repeated at least three times. Error bars, mean ± SD. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001