Fig. 7

MEX3C promotes tumor growth in vivo. A Animal vivo images of MEX3C silencing A549 and H1299 xenograft nude mice (GFP fluorescent images) show that MEX3C silencing reduces the growth of xenografts (n = 5). A Images of A549 and H1299 xenograft tumors. B, C The histograms of tumor volumes and weight revealed that A549 and H1299 cells with MEX3C inhibited generated smaller xenografts when compared to the control cells. D The morphology of tumor was determined by H&E staining (scale bar, 200 μm) (E). Apoptosis ratio was determined by TUNEL assay (scale bar, 200 μm). F Immunohistochemistry was used to determine and compare the expression levels of Ki-67 and PCNA between the si-NC and si-MEX3C groups. Scale bar, 100 µm. G, H Western blot analysis and Immunohistochemistry were used to determine the protein levels of MEX3C, RUNX3 and Suv39H1 as well as EMT-related proteins in tumors of mice models of si-NC and si-MEX3C groups. Data were expressed as mean ± SD, n = 5, **P < 0.01