Fig. 1

SDF-1 treatment induces stemness and migratory potential of HCC cells. a Nuclei were stained with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). The first set of probes contained four epithelial transcripts (CK8, CK18, CK19, and EpCAM), and the second set of probes consisted of two mesenchymal transcripts (Vimentin and Twist). The cells were analysed using fluorescence microscopy. The red and green fluorescent signals observed in the cells represent expression of epithelial and mesenchymal genes, respectively. b CTCs were classified as epithelial, hybrid, or mesenchymal CTCs according to the positive signals. c Numbers of various CTCs were calculated and their relevance to clinical parameters assessed. d Epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype was identified in 5 human HCC cell lines using the CanPatrol™ system. e Migrating cells were counted under a microscope in five randomly selected fields. Bars represent number of invaded cells. f Effect of SDF-1 on drug resistance (epirubicin) was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. g Phase-contrast images of sphere-forming assays of cells treated with SDF-1. h Western blotting was used to detect the expression of stemness markers. i Immunohistochemistry assay were performed to detected the expression of SDF-1 in primary HCC and lung metastastic foci. j ELISA assay were used to detect the concentration of SDF-1 in supernatant of indicated cells. # P > 0.05. * P < 0.05. * P < 0.01.