Fig. 6.

Effects of QCR2 and PHB expression on cancer cell proliferation in vivo. A total of 1 × 10⁶ luciferase labeled A549 cells expressing QCR2-shRNA, QCR2-shRNA and PHB-shRNA, or empty vector were subcutaneously injected into SCID mice (n = 6 per group). (a) Western blotting analysis of QCR2 and PHB expression levels following stable knockdown for QCR2 and/or PHB. (b) Tumor volumes (mm³) were estimated using calipers for 4 weeks after tumor cell injections (***p < .001, student's t-test, n = 6). (c) All mice were monitored by the in vivo luciferase imaging system (IVIS Lumina) at 28 days after injections. Representative images are shown (top panel), and luciferase intensities (total flux) are shown as means ± SDs (*p < .05, ***p < .001, student's t-test, n = 6). (d) Tumors were excised at 28 days after injections and photographed. (e) Tumor weights (g) were measured. Red bars indicate the means, and data were analyzed using Student's t-tests (**p < .01, ***p < .001, student's t-test, n = 6). (f) Representative images of H&E staining and IHC for QCR2, PHB, and p21 using tumors developed in mice (scale bar = 20 μm). (g) Six tumor samples from each group were analyzed for the protein expression of p53, p21, PHB, QCR2, and GAPDH by western blotting.