Figure 5. The effects of PPIX on cell proliferation and migration/invasion.

(A) Inhibition of DNA synthesis by PPIX treatment, miR-199a-5p mimic or siE2F3 transfection. The rate of SK-Hep1 cell proliferation was measured using the [methyl-³H]-thymidine incorporation assay. DNA synthesis rate was determined in SK-Hep1 cells treated with 3 μM PPIX for 16 h in the presence or absence of 5% fetal bovine serum. The cells were also transfected with control mimic (or siRNA), miR-199a-5p mimic (48 h), or siE2F3 (72 h), and were continuously incubated in a medium containing 5% serum for 16 h. (B) Inhibition of cell migration by miR-199a-5p. SK-Hep1 cells were transfected with control miR or miR-199a-5p mimic for 48 h, and were subjected to transwell migration assays in a medium with or without serum for 16 h. (C) Inhibition of cell migration and invasion by PPIX. Migrated/invaded cells were examined using light microscopy (magnification, × 200, upper). Numbers of migrate/invaded cells per field were counted and quantified (lower). For A–C, value represents the mean ± S.E. from 3 independent experiments (treatment mean significantly different from vehicle-treated control, **P < 0.01, or serum, ##P < 0.01).