Fig. 2From: Targeting TROY-mediated P85a/AKT/TBX3 signaling attenuates tumor stemness and elevates treatment response in hepatocellular carcinomaTROY enhances the stemness properties of HCC cells. (A, B) Western blotting of TROY (A), NANOG, SOX2, and OCT3/4 (B) in 8024 and Hep3B HCC cells transfected with lentiviruses expressing empty vector (vec) or TROY isoforms (#1 and #2). β-Actin was used as a loading control. (C) Spheroid formation assay (left) and summaries (right) of spheroid numbers in 8024 and Hep3B cells with vec or TROY isoforms. (D) Representative flow cytometry plots (left) and summary (right) of apoptotic cells in 8024 and Hep3B cells transfected with vec or TROY isoforms. Cells were treated with Sorafenib (20 μm) for 24 h. (E) Representative flow cytometry plots (left) and summary (right) of ALDH activity in 8024 and Hep3B cells transfected with vec or TROY isoforms. (F) Tumor (left), tumor volume (middle) and tumor weight (right) of in vivo tumor formation assays with subcutaneously injected Hep3B cells transfected with vec or TROY isoforms in NOD/SCID mice. (G) In vivo subcutaneous implantation nude mice model induced by 8024 cells transfected with vec or TROY isoforms. Statistical significances: *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001Back to article page