Fig. 2

APE1 stimulates EMT and invasion of cervical cancer cells. a APE1 expression levels detected by western blot. Indicated cells were transfected with the indicated plasmid or siRNA. Then, 72 h after the transfection, the cells were subjected to western blot analysis. b Representative blots showing that APE1 positively regulates EMT in cervical cancer cells. Western blotting was performed 72 h post-transfection. c Immunofluorescence (IF) showing that silencing APE1 stimulates E-cadherin expression and inhibits vimentin expression in HeLa cells. HeLa cells were transfected with the indicated siRNAs. After 72 h of transfection, IF analysis was performed. d Cervical cancer cell invasion was stimulated or inhibited by the overexpression or knockdown of APE1, respectively. Vector, cells transfected with empty vector; APE1, cells transfected with APE1 expression plasmid; NC, cells transfected with nontargeting control siRNA; siAPE1, cells transfected with APE1 siRNA; Ctrl, cells not treated with anything. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001