Fig. 4

Stable knockdown of SPAG5 reduced SCARA5 expression in HCC cells. a, qRT-PCR analysis of the expression of SCARA5 in HCC cells and HL-7702 cells. ^*p < 0.05. b, Scatter plots showing the negative linear correlation between the mRNA expression of SPAG5 and that of SCARA5 in HCC cells. c-f, qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses was performed to detect the SCARA5 expression levels in Huh7 cells (c and d) and HCCLM3 cells (e and f) stably transfected with the shNC vector or the shSPAG5 plasmid. ^*p < 0.05. g. Luciferase analysis for SCARA5 promoter activity in SPAG5-knockdown HCC cells. ^*p < 0.05. h, Determination of SPAG5 protein levels in HCC tissues (n = 60) and in paired non-tumor tissues (n = 60) by western blotting. Tubulin was used as a loading control. i, Relative mRNA levels of SCARA5 in HCC tissues (n = 136) and in paired non-tumor tissues (n = 136). j, scatter plots show a positive correlation between SPAG5 and SCARA5 at the mRNA level in HCC