Figure 3.

MiR-5188 enhances the stemness, metastasis, proliferation, and chemoresistance of HCC cells in vivo. (A) QPCR analysis of miR-5188 expression in xenograft tumors derived from HCCLM3 and PLC/PRF/5 cells treated with antagomir, Huh7 and Hep3B cells stably overexpressing miR-5188 and corresponding controls cells (n=3 independent experiments, Student's t-test). (B) Survival analysis showing the cumulative overall survival time of mice in the miR-5188 antagomir-treated group and the control group (n=10, log-rank test). (C) A subcutaneous xenograft mouse model was adopted to evaluate the effect of miR-5188 on tumor-initiating frequency (n=6). (D) QPCR analysis was used to confirm the miR-5188 expression level in tumors derived from miR-5188-overexpressing HCC cells and control cells. (E) A pulmonary metastasis model was adopted to evaluate the effect of miR-5188 on metastasis (n=5, Student's t-test). (F) An orthotopic tumor model was adopted to evaluate the effect of miR-5188 on proliferation and metastasis (n=7). (G) A subcutaneous xenograft mouse model was adopted to evaluate the effect of miR-5188 on proliferation (n=5, general linear model). Xenograft tumors were stained with H&E and underwent immunohistochemical analysis for Ki67 and PCNA expression (n=5). (H) Survival analysis indicating the cumulative overall survival time of mice in the oe-miR-5188 group, EPI/CDDP/5-FU-treated group, oe-miR-5188+EPI/CDDP/5-FU group, EPI/CDDP/5-FU combined with miR5188 antagomir-treated group and control group (n=10, log-rank test). All data are presented as the mean ± SD. Experiments were repeated three times (A) or conducted once (B-H). H&E staining scale bars: 50 μm. Immunohistochemistry scale bars: 10 μm.