Fig. 2

Functions of PAR1 in HCC cells when overexpressed or knocked down by siRNA. a Western blot assays of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VE-cadherin, E-cadherin, and Vimentin in PLC-PRF-5 cells transfected with PAR1; HepG2/M cells transfected with PAR1 siRNA. b Ca flux changes in cells at different PAR1 levels with or without thrombin stimulation at 1 U/ml. In the presence of thrombin, Ca signals in PLC-PRF-5/PAR1 cells were significantly higher than in the absence of thrombin. When PAR1 in HepG2/M cells was knocked down by siRNA, Ca signals displayed a twofold decrease even with thrombin stimulation. c PAR1 expression levels also affected the VM tube formation in HCC cells, as assessed in 3D gel culture. PAR1 overexpression in PLC-PRF-5 cells can increase VM tube formation, and PAR1 knockdown can decrease VM tube formation in HepG2/M cells with and without thrombin stimulation. (mean ± sd; n = 3 in triplicate; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01)