Fig. 7

Gli2 transcriptionally activated STAT3. a Influence of up-regulated Gli2 on expression of circ-STAT3 and STAT3 were evaluated by qRT-PCR analysis and western blot analysis. Student’s t-test. b qRT-PCR and western blot analysis revealed knockdown efficiency of Gli2; influence of down-regulated Gli2 on expression of circ-STAT3 and STAT3 were evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. One-way ANOVA. c-d Luciferase reporter assay and DNA pull-down assay revealed the affinity of Gli2 in circ-STAT3 promoter. Student’s t-test. e DNA motif of Gli2 and the binding sites of Gli2 on the promoter of circ-STAT3. f Luciferase reporter assay revealed the luciferase activity of wild and mutant circ-STAT3 promoter by up-regulation of Gli2. Student’s t-test. g ChIP assay verified relative enrichment of circ-STAT3 promoter pulled down by anti-Gli2. Student’s t-test. ^**P < 0.01. The symbol “n.s.” indicates no significance