Fig. 3

LncROPM is required for the maintenance of BCSCs properties. A, B qRT-PCR analysis of lncROPM expression in BCSCs transfected with shCtrl (shControl), shROPM-1, and shROPM-2 shRNAs (A) or non-BCSCs transfected with control lentivirus (LEV) and lncROPM-overexpressed lentivirus (LV-ROPM) (B). C, E Representative images of mammospheres formed from BCSCs transfected with shCtrl, shROPM-1, and shROPM-2 shRNAs (C) or non-BCSCs transfected with LEV and LV-ROPM lentivirus (E). Original magnification, × 100. Scale bars, 200 µm. D, F Mammosphere-formation efficiencies in BCSCs transfected with shCtrl, shROPM-1, and shROPM-2 shRNAs (D) or non-BCSCs transfected with LEV and LV-ROPM lentivirus (F). n.d. not detected. G, I In vitro limiting dilution assay to detect the frequency of stem cells in lncROPM-deficient BCSCs (G) or lncROPM-overexpressed non-BCSCs (I), as well as their control cells. H, J LncROPM-silenced (shROPM-2) CSCs (H) and lncROPM-overexpressed non-CSCs (J) from BT549 were diluted and subcutaneously implanted into BALB/c nude mice, as well as their control cells. Tumors were observed for 2 months. N = 5 for each group. Stem cell frequency was calculated by the limiting dilution assay. CI confidence interval. Data were presented as the mean ± SD, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01