Fig. 1

GRP78 in GSCs is associated with MES phenotype. a GRP78 mRNA expression level in PN-, CL- and MES-subtype GBMs from TCGA database. b GSEA reveals a significantly positive correlation between high expression of GRP78 with MES subtype. c Correlation analysis for expression of GRP78 and MES signatures CD44, YKL40 in TCGA database. d GSEA analysis reveals high GRP78 is positively enriched in NF-κB and STAT3 pathways. e GRP78 protein expression in GSC11, 8–11, 20 and 267. f Western blotting for total GRP78 and MES signatures and related pathways in GSC20 and 267 transfected with siGRP78. g Images of tumor spheres formation after GSC20 and 267 transfected with lentiviral shGRP78 or shNT and the column plot is the quantified analysis of spheres diameter. Scale bar, 500 μm. h In vitro limiting dilution assay for GSC20 and 267 expressing lentiviral shGRP78 or shNT. i Bioluminescence of mice implanted with luciferase-labeled GSC267 expressing shGRP78 or shNT. j Survival curve of mice in these two groups, tested by log-rank test. Error bar indicates at least three independent experiments and data are shown as mean ± SD. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001