Fig. 7

p-STAT3 bound to the promoter of HEGBC and activated HEGBC expression. a Schematic outline of the predicted binding site for p-STAT3 on the promoter of HEGBC. b ChIP assay in NOZ cells was performed using p-STAT3 specific antibody or negative control IgG. The bound DNA was detected using qRT-PCR with specific primers against the predicted binding sites on the promoter of HEGBC or a distal non-binding site (negative control, NC). c RIP assay in NOZ cells was performed using p-STAT3 specific antibody, STAT3 specific antibody, or negative control IgG. The bound RNA was detected using qRT-PCR with specific primers against HEGBC or TSLNC8 (positive control). d After co-transfection of renilla luciferase reporter pRL-TK with firefly luciferase reporters containing HEGBC promoter, p-STAT3 binding sites mutated HEGBC promoter, or nothing into NOZ cells, the NOZ cells were treated with 5 μM p-STAT3 inhibitor SC144 for 72 h. Luciferase activities in these NOZ cells were detected. Data are presented as the relative ratio of firefly luciferase activity to renilla luciferase activity. e After co-transfection of renilla luciferase reporter pRL-TK with firefly luciferase reporters containing HEGBC promoter, p-STAT3 binding sites mutated HEGBC promoter, or nothing into NOZ cells, the NOZ cells were treated with 20 ng/mL IL-11 for 72 h. Luciferase activities in these NOZ cells were detected. Data are presented as the relative ratio of firefly luciferase activity to renilla luciferase activity. f The expression of IL-11 in NOZ cells treated with 5 μM SC144 for 72 h was detected using qRT-PCR. g The expression of IL-11 in NOZ cells treated with 20 ng/mL IL-11 for 72 h was detected using qRT-PCR. For b-g, results are shown as mean ± s.d. of 3 independent experiments. ns, not significant, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 by Student’s t test. h The correlation between HEGBC and IL-11 expression level in 102 GBC tissues. r = 0.7996, P < 0.0001 by Pearson’s correlation analysis