lncZic2 was highly expressed in liver cancer and liver TICs.
A, total RNA from 19 peritumor, seven early HCC (eHCC), and 12 advanced HCC (aHCC) samples was extracted, and lncZic2 expression levels were examined by real-time PCR. B, in situ hybridization of lncZic2. 19 peritumor, seven early HCC, and 12 advanced HCC samples were used for lncZic2 hybridization. Typical images are shown in the three left panels, lncZic2high cell ratios are shown in the center panel, and lncZic2 photon intensities are shown in the right panel. C and D, lncZic2 expression levels in CD133+ liver TICs (C) and stem-like oncospheres (D) were examined through real-time PCR. lncZic2 average expression levels in liver non-TICs and nonspheres were normalized as 1. E, FISH analysis for lncZic2 expression and localization in spheres and nonspheres. DAPI, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. Scale bars = 10 μm. Experiments were repeated at least three times. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001, by t test.