Figure 5.
Overexpression of ADAMTS5 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell xenograft growth and angiogenesis in a mouse xenograft model.
Notes: An in vivo hepatoma model was established by injection of 1×107 Hep3B/TS5 or Hep3B/Vec cells. (A) Tumor xenograft growth curve. Comparison of tumor growth (volume increase) between ADAMTS5 group (Hep3B/TS5) and the control group (Hep3B/Vec). The volume of tumor xenografts was monitored every 7 days and measured using vernier calipers. The tumor volume (V) was calculated using the formula of V = A × B2 ×0.52, where A was the largest diameter (mm) and B was the smallest diameter (mm) (n=3/group). (B) The tumors were weighed immediately after isolation from mice. The tumor weight was plotted between the two groups. Columns, mean (n=3); bars, standard error of the mean. ***P<0.0001 compared to controls. (C) Representative photographs of immunohistochemical analysis of ADAMTS5, VEGF, and CD34 expression in xenograft sections from mice (original magnification, 400×). (D) Summarized data show that ADAMTS5 decreased the number of CD34-positive vessels in xenograft sections. The number of vessels was counted in five fields for each xenograft section. The data are presented as means ± standard deviation.
Abbreviation: VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.