Fig. 2
IL-6 activates the expression of DNMTs and OCT4 in vitro and in vivo. a The effect of IL-6 (50 ng/mL) on mRNA expression of DNMTs and OCT4 in HBV+HBsAg+ HCCs (Hep3B and HepG2.2.15) and HBV−HBsAg− HCCs (HepG2) under different incubation time assessed by real-time qPCR. b The effect of IL-6 (50 ng/mL) on the protein expression of DNMTs and OCT4 in HBV+HBsAg+ HCCs (Hep3B and HepG2.2.15) and HBV−HBsAg− HCCs (HepG2 and Huh7) by western blotting. The qualitative data is shown in (c). Three individual experiments were carried out for each experimental condition. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.0001, student t test. d Xenografts of 5 × 106 Hep3B cells in athymic nude mice with IL-6 (200 ng/mouse/3 d) treatment (n = 6). Immuno-histochemical staining for p-STAT3, DNMT3b, OCT4, DNMT1, DNMT3a, and the control IgG are shown (Bar, 100 μm)