Fig. 2
From: Vitamin C preferentially kills cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma via SVCT-2
SVCT-2 is required for the maintenance of liver CSCs. a qRT-PCR analysis for stemness markers in shSVCT-2 cells and shCtrl cells. b Western blot analysis showing SVCT-2, CD133, and Oct-4 expressions in shSVCT-2 cells and shCtrl cells. Samples derived from the same experiment and gels/blots were processed in parallel. c shSVCT-2 cells and shCtrl cells were cultured for sphere-formation assays. Scale bars = 150 μm. d Flow cytometric analysis for the proportion of CD133+ or EpCAM+ cells in shSVCT-2 cells and shCtrl cells. e Left: shSVCT-2 and shCtrl parental Huh7 cells were treated with indicated concentrations of cisplatin and sorafenib for 48 h. Right: shSVCT-2 and shCtrl cisplatin-resistant or sorafenib-resistant Huh7 cells were treated with indicated concentrations of cisplatin and sorafenib for 48 h. Cell viability was determined by the CCK-8 assay. f, g shSVCT-2 and shCtrl cells (1 × 106) were injected subcutaneously into nude mice. Tumor sizes were measured every week (f). After ~21 days of treatment, mice were euthanized and total tumor weights were measured (g). h Western blot analysis showing SVCT-2, CD133, Oct-4, and cleaved caspase 3 expressions in shSVCT-2 cells and shCtrl cells-derived tumor tissues from mice. Samples derived from the same experiment and gels/blots were processed in parallel. i IHC analysis showing SVCT-2, CD133, Oct-4, cleaved PARP, and cleaved caspase 3 expressions in shSVCT-2 cells and shCtrl cells-derived tumor tissues. Scale bars = 100 μm. Data are representative of at least three independent experiments and shown as mean ± s.d. (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001)
