Figure 4. Metformin (Met) reduces cancer stem-like properties generated by induction of TGF-β1.
(A) Metformin inhibited gliosphere formation in LN18 and U87 cells stimulated by exposure to TGF-β1 (10 ng/ml). Representative images of gliosphere were photographed under Olympus microscope (×100 magnification). Histograms show the numbers of gliosphere in different treatment groups. (B) Western blot results of inhibitory effect of metformin on stemness-related proteins stimulated by exposure to TGF-β1 in LN18 and U87 cells. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, TGF-β1 treated group vs. control group; TGF-β1 treated group vs. TGF-β1 and Metformin (10 mM) treated group.