Fig. 5. Akirin2 stimulates VEGFA expression via activating IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway.

a The levels of IL-6, gp130, STAT3, pSTAT3, and VEGFA in Akirin2-sh-NC and Akirin2-sh-Akirin2 cells were detected by western blot. b, cThe formation of capillary-like structures was obviously promoted by Akirin2. The co-culture with IL-6 (20 ng/ml) or stattic (10 μM) was also evaluated. d The western blot analysis of the expression of the proteins pSTAT3, STAT3, and VEGFA post co-culture with IL-6 (25 ng/ml, 30 min) or stattic (10 μM, 2 h). Magnification, × 40 (c), × 100 (d). Scale bar, 500 μm (c), 200 μm (d). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.001. Data are shown as mean ± SD of at least three independent experiments