Figure 4.

Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) deficiency enhances invasion of fibroblasts via upregulation of hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) expression. (a) Twenty-four hours after transfection with either PTEN siRNA or NC siRNA, equal numbers of fibroblasts were loaded into transwell chambers without/with Matrigel. Migratory fibroblasts (left panel) and invasive fibroblasts (right panel) were examined by crystal violet staining assay at indicated time points. Data are representative of at least three independent experiments. (b) RNA was extracted from MRC-5^PTENsi cells and MRC-5^NCsi cells, and migration- and invasion-related gene expression profiling are shown. (c, d) Inhibition of PTEN increased the expression of HAS2 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)9. MRC-5 cells were transfected with PTEN siRNA or negative control (NC) siRNA for 48 h, and the protein expression of HAS2 and MMP9 were measured by Western blot analysis and densitometric quantification. β-Actin was used as a loading control. Data are representative of at least three independent experiments. Error bars indicate mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01