Fig. 8.

MLK7-AS1 interacted with YAP1 to promote tumor growth, metastasis and EMT process in vivo. (a, b) Primary tumors in ovary were imaged at 6 weeks after injection by xenograft live animal imaging. (c, d) Tumor growth curves measured after injection of si-MLK7-AS1 or si-MLK7-AS1 + miR-375-inhibitor SKOV3 cells. Tumor size was evaluated using the average maximal luminescence from the mice. (e, f) Tumors from NSG mice xenografted with si-MLK7-AS1 or si-MLK7-AS1 + miR-375-inhibitor SKOV3 cells were dissected and weighed. (g) Knockdown of MLK7-AS1 suppressed the ability of primary tumors to metastasize to liver and spleen in vivo, moreover, the effects were abolished in the miR-375-inhibition cotransfected group. (h) H.E. stained sections of primary tumor in ovary, liver and spleen of NSG mice injected with si-MLK7-AS1 or si-MLK7-AS1 + miR-375-inhibitor SKOV3 cells. (i) Western blot analysis of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, YAP1 and Slug in primary tumors of ovary. (j, k, l) The expressions of E-cadherin, vimentin, cell proliferation marker gene PCNA, YAP1 and Slug were determined using immunofluorescence in primary tumors of ovary. The data were presented as mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01