AGRN silencing suppresses migration, invasion, viability and proliferation of TC cells. (A) mRNA and (B) protein expression of AGRN in NTHY and BcPAP cells transfected with siAGRN or NEG were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting, respectively. *P<0.05, **P<0.0016 and ***P<0.0006. The plot shows changes in protein expression that were normalized to β-actin. The effects of siAGRN on (C) migration and (D) invasion of NTHY and BcPAP cells. The plots show modified Boyden chamber migration and invasion assays performed in three independent biological experiments. Magnification, ×200. (E) Effects of siAGRN transfection on vimentin, N-cadherin and E-cadherin protein levels in NTHY and BcPAP cells. *P<0.05 and **P<0.005. Representative western blotting of protein expression normalized GAPDH. (F) Effects of siAGRN transfection on the viability of NTHY and BcPAP cells. The plots show the results of the MTS assay performed in three independent biological experiments. *P<0.05. (G) Effects of siAGRN on the proliferation of NTHY and BcPAP cells. The plots show BrdU assay performed in three independent biological experiments. ***P<0.0002 and *P<0.01. TC, thyroid cancer; siRNA, small interfering RNA; NEG, negative control; AGRN, agrin.