Fig. 4
CD73 promotes CSC traits mainly via SOX9. a mRNA expressions of indicated genes after SOX9 knockdown in Hep3B cells were evaluated by RT-PCR assays. b mRNA expressions of indicated genes after SOX9 knockdown in CD73-overexpressed MHCC97L cells were evaluated by RT-PCR assays. c Protein expression levels of indicated genes after SOX9 knockdown in Hep3B (left) and CD73-overexpressed MHCC97L (right) cells were evaluated by WB assays. d Effects of SOX9 knockdown on sphere-forming capacities in Hep3B and CD73-overexpressed MHCC97L cells. Typical images of spheres were shown as left panels. (e) Effects of SOX9 knockdown on Lenvatinib resistance capacities in Hep3B and CD73-overexpressed MHCC97L cells. Typical images of colony formation assays were shown as upper panels. (f) Protein expression levels of stemness-associated genes after SOX9 knockdown in CD73+ cells purified from Hep3B (left) and HCCLM3 (right) cells. g Number of spheres after SOX9 knockdown in CD73+ cells purified from Hep3B (left) and HCCLM3 (right) cells. h Effects of SOX9 knockdown on Lenvatinib resistance capacities in CD73+ cells purified from Hep3B (left) and HCCLM3 (right) cells. Throughout the figure, “*” indicated P < 0.05, “**” indicated P < 0.01, and “***” indicated P < 0.001 by two-tailed t test or Mann–Whitney test