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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: Lab Invest. 2015 Jul 6;95(10):1145–1156. doi: 10.1038/labinvest.2015.77

Figure 5. Galectin 3 mediates the migratory activity of hepatoma cells.

Figure 5

To analyze the effect of galectin 3 on cell migration, Hepa1-6 cells were transfected with either scrambled (Scrsi) or galectin 3 siRNA (Gal3si), and 48 hours later wound closure assay was performed (A, B). Non-transfected (NT) cells were used as a control. After 24 hours, the number of migrating cells significantly decreased following galectin 3 siRNA transfection (N=9, **p<0.01) compared to the scrambled siRNA transfected cells. This was reversed by exposing the cells to recombinant galectin 3 (1μM for 24 hours), suggesting the role of extracellular galectin 3 in the regulation of HCC cell migration. (***p<0.001)

The above siRNA expressing cells were processed for fluorescent staining to detect Ki67 (C, D). The galectin 3 siRNA significantly reduced the number of Ki67+ cells (*p<0.05, N=4). To evaluate apoptosis, the above cells were incubated with fas ligand (FSL, 5 ng/ml, 16 hr), then stained for active caspase 3 (C, E). The galectin 3 siRNA significantly increased the number of active caspase 3+ cells (**p<0.01, N=4).