Fig. 2

The effect of circFOXK2 on the ability of the progression and the Warburg effect of HCC cells. A Cell proliferation potentials in HepG2 and Huh 7 cells were assessed by CCK8 assay at day 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 after respectively transfected sh-NC or sh-circFOXK2. B Representative images of colony formation of HCC cells by staining with crystal violet after knockdown of circFOXK2. Statistical analysis of colony formation assay. C Flow cytometry analysis was performed to detect the apoptotic rate of circFOXK2 silenced HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Statistical analysis of apoptosis assay. D Representative images of Transwell results of HCC cells after silencing of circFOXK2. Statistical analysis of Transwell assay. E–G Alterations in pyruvate production, lactate production and ATP production levels were detected after gain- or loss-expression of circFOXK2 of HepG2 and Huh7 cells. H The NADH/NAD + ratio was measured after transfection of HepG2 and Huh7 cells with sh-circFOXK2 or overexpression circFOXK2 vector. I-J The ECAR was measured after transfection of HepG2 and Huh7 cells with sh-circFOXK2 or overexpression circFOXK2 vector. K-L The OCR was detected after transfection of HepG2 and Huh7 cells with sh-circFOXK2 or overexpression circFOXK2 vector. Data were represented as means ± SD with at least three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001