Fig. 6

MUC1 participates in the STON2-mediated modulation of stem-like properties in ovarian cancer cells. a, b 3AO and Caov3 cells were transfected with a MUC1-specific shRNA for 48 h and cultured in spheroid culture conditions for 7 days. Representative images and the relative expression levels of CSC-related markers NANOG and c-MYC were detected by immunoblot analysis (a), and the CD44⁺CD24⁻ population was detected by FCM (b). c, d 3AO and Caov3 cells were transfected with MUC1 overexpressing plasmid for 48 h, and cultured in spheroid culture conditions for 7 days. Representative images and the relative expression levels of CSC-related markers NANOG and c-MYC were detected by immunoblot analysis (c), and the CD44⁺CD24⁻ population was detected using FCM (d). e 3AO and Caov3 cells were transfected with a control vector, STON2 overexpression plasmid, or STON2 overexpression plasmid plus MUC1 overexpression plasmid for 48 h and cultured in spheroid culture conditions for 7 days. Sphere-formation (sphere> 50 μm) was assessed. Scale bars, 50 μm. f 3AO cells were transfected with a MUC1-specific shRNA, or MUC1 overexpressing plasmid for 48 h, and cultured in spheroid culture conditions for 7 days. EMT-related markers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and fibronectin) were detected using immunoblot analysis. Data represents the mean ± S.E. of three independent experiments. The level of significance is indicated by *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001