Figure 2.

Over-expression of integrin α2β1 is associated with the malignant phenotype of human non-small cell lung cancer. (A) Western blot analysis of integrin α2 or β1 expression in the lung cancer cell lines CL1-0, CL1-5 and A549. (B) Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the distribution level of integrin α2β1 on the tumor surface. (C) Using cell sorting, A549 cells were separated into two populations, non-sorted A549 and integrin α2β1-high A549⁺⁺ cells, and the correlations between the integrin α2β1 level and the association with migration and invasion capabilities were determined. The A549⁺⁺ population displayed a marked expression signature corresponding to a more aggressive NSCLC phenotype. Error bars represent the standard deviation of the mean. *p < 0.05.