Figure 3. Kindlin-1 promotes CRC cell invasion and migration by stimulating an EMT phenotype.

A. Left panel: Morphological changes for CRC cells with or without Kindlin-1 expression were observed by a phase contrast microscope. Right panel: SW1116 cells were transfected with Flag or Flag-Kindlin-1 for 48 h. Cell lysates were subjected to Western blot analysis using antibodies as indicated. B. Depletion of Kindlin-1 increases epithelial markers and reduces mesenchymal markers in CRC cells. Kindlin-1 siRNA1 and 2 (left panel) or Kindlin-1 siRNA (1+ 2) (right panel) were transfected into HCT116 or SW620 cells, and cell lysates were subjected to Western blot analysis using indicated antibodies. C. The levels of EMT markers were detected by qPCR in Kindlin-1 overexpressed (Left panel) or knocked down (right panel) in HCT 116 cells. D. Migration and invasion assays were performed in SW1116 Flag and SW1116 Flag-Kindlin-1 cells. Kindlin-1 is required for CRC cell migration and invasion. Migration and invasion assays were performed using SW620 cells with control shRNA or SW620 Kindlin-1 shRNA. a and c. Gain-of-function experiments. b and d. Loss-of-function experiments. Data were displayed as mean ± SEM from three independent experiments. * indicates p<0.05 by Student's t test.