Figure 4. UCHL1 promotes distant tumour metastases.

(a) Two clones of the EMT6/EF-Luc/EV and EMT6/EF-Luc/UCHL1 cells were subjected to western blotting with the indicated antibodies. (b–e) The growth of pulmonary metastases was monitored by in vivo imaging as luciferase bioluminescence on the indicated days after the intravenous transplantation of EMT6/EF-Luc/EV (EV) and EMT6/EF-Luc/UCHL1 (UCHL1) cells (b). (c) Representative images. (d) The relative number of metastatic lung colonies in the UCHL1 group to that in the EV group was analysed 10 days after transplantation. (e) Representative images. n=12. (f–j) By using two clones of B16F10/EF-Luc/shNC and B16F10/EF-Luc/shUCHL1 (shRNA version A and B) cells (f), the same experiments as those described in a to e were performed. (k–m) EMT6/EF-Luc/EV (EV) and EMT6/EF-Luc/UCHL1 (UCHL1) cells were orthotopically transplanted to the fat pads of female scid mice. The growth of primary tumours (k) and relative number of metastatic lung colonies in the UCHL1 group to that in the EV group was analysed 27 days after transplantation (l). n=6. (m) Representative images. Mean±s.d. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, Student’s t-test (b,d,g,i,k,l). NS, not significant.