Figure 4.

Notch is involved in the TS-induced acquisition of lung CSC-like properties. (A) The expression of Notch pathway proteins, including NICD and Hes1, was detected by western blotting. (B) Densitometric analyses of the western blots of NICD and Hes1 were performed after β-actin normalization. THBE sphere-forming cells were treated with DAPT for 4 days. Representative tumorsphere images (original magnification, 400×) were acquired (C) and tumorspheres were quantified (D). (E) Western blotting was used to detect the expression of lung CSC markers. (F) The indicated protein levels relative to β-actin were assessed by densitometric analysis. (G) Immunofluorescence staining of NICD, Hes1, CD133, and ALDH1A1 in THBE sphere-forming cells for the indicated groups, original magnification, 200×. Three independent experiments were performed. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD. Significance was assessed by unpaired two-tailed Student's t tests or one-way ANOVA. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01 compared to the control group.