Fig. 3

WNT4 can promotes metastasis of colorectal cancer cells. a The mRNA level of WNT4 in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells transfected with WNT4-siRNA1, WNT4-siRNA2, and normal control. b The mRNA level of WNT4 in SW480 cells transfected with WNT4-vector and WNT4-HA. c CRC cells were transfected with WNT4-siRNA1, WNT4-siRNA2, then, WNT4, β-catenin, AXIN2, E-cadherin, ZO-1, and nuclear β-catenin and AXIN2 were analyzed by western blot. d Overexpression of WNT4 enhanced the TCF/LEF transcription activity. e and f Tumor cell metastasis assay was performed in vivo; the ratio of liver weight to body weight and the number of liver metastases in the Scramble group are much higher than the WNT4-shRNA group (n = 7). Scale bar, 50 μm. g and h A subcutaneous xenograft model in nude mice was used to identify if WNT4 promoted the proliferation of colon cancer cells (LoVo cells, n = 7; SW480 cells, n = 5). No significant difference was observed. g Scale bar, 20 μm. h Scale bar, 50 μm. Data are presented as the mean ± SD. Two-tailed Student’s t test was used for statistical analyses. *P < 0.05