Fig. 6

Slug is involved in IGF2BP2-regulated EMT in HNSCC cells. A Spearman correlation of Snail, Slug, ZEB1, and Twist with IGF2BP2 in the TCGA database for HNSCC. P value and Spearman’s correlations (rho) are indicated. B The distribution of Slug expression in HNSCC tissues with high or low IGF2BP2 expression and normal tissues. The quartile expression level of IGF2BP2 was used as cutoff value. The upper quartile was considered as IGF2BP2 ^high, and the lower quartile was considered as IGF2BP2 ^low. The uppermost corner on the left depicts the test method for significant P values. C FaDu and SCC15 cells were transfected with si-RNAs or si-NC after TGF-β treatment. The mRNA levels of Snail, Slug, ZEB1, and Twist were detected by RT-qPCR. ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001, ns: not statistically significant. D FaDu and SCC15 cells underwent transfection with si-RNAs or si-NC after TGF-β treatment. The expression of Slug was detected by western blot analysis. E The expression of Slug was detected by western blotting analysis in IGF2BP2-overexpressed FaDu cells or corresponding control cells without TGF-β treatment. F Statistical analysis of western blot for all the groups. ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001. G IGF2BP2-overexpressed FaDu cells or corresponding control cells underwent transfection with si-NC or si-Slug for 48 h, and the expression of Slug, vimentin, and E-Cadherin were assessed by western blot analysis (left) and analyzed quantitatively (right). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. H After transfection with si-NC or si-Slug for 48 h, the wound healing of IGF2BP2-overexpressed FaDu cells and corresponding control cells were recorded (left) and analyzed quantitatively (right). **P < 0.01. I Representative images showing high or low expression of Slug and IGF2BP2 in HNSCC tissues. Scale bars: 200 μm. J Correlation analysis between Slug and IGF2BP2 in HNSCC tissues (n = 78). All the data are presented in the form of mean ± SD from three independently performed experiments