Figure 7. HCC cell migration is regulated by a ROCK and MLCK-mediated pathway resulting in MLC2 phosphorylation.

Hepa1-6 cells were incubated with Y-27632 (ROCK inhibitor, 10μM), and a wound closure assay was performed. ROCK inhibition resulted in a significant decrease in the migratory rate compared to the control cells. (A, B; N=4, *p<0.05). The phosphorylation of MLC2 was examined as downstream target of galectin 3 and RhoA/ROCK by Western blots (C). Densitometry based on 3 independent experiments showed that in the galectin 3 siRNA-transfected cells, the phosphorylation of MLC2 was significantly reduced (D, N=3, *p<0.05).