Fig. 3. CASC9 knockdown promotes autophagy in SCC15 and CAL27 cells.

a TEM revealed an increase in the density of autophagosomes in SCC15 and CAL27 cells after CASC9 was silenced. (low magnification scale bars = 2 μm; high magnification scale bars = 1 μm). b The immunofluorescence assay showed that the fluorescence intensity of LC3B was enhanced in CASC9-silenced SCC15 and CAL27 cells, whereas the fluorescence intensity of P62 was reduced (scale bars = 200 μm). c, d After the knockdown of CASC9 in SCC15 and CAL27 cells, the LC3B II/LC3B I ratio was increased, as detected by western blotting, and the expression level of P62 protein was decreased (c); likewise, the mRNA expression of LC3B was increased, and that of P62 was decreased (d). All data represent three independent experiments. Data are presented as the mean ± SD (n ≥ 3). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001