Figure 3.

Knockdown of TRPM7 promoted the degradation of HIF-1α protein under hypoxia in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. (a, b) PC3 (a) and DU145 cells (b) were transfected with TRPM7-siRNA (Si-T7) or negative control siRNA (Si-Con) for 72 h; then they were exposed to hypoxia (H) or normoxia (N) for 24 h. The HIF-1α protein expression was determined by using western blot. The representative blot images were shown. ∗ versus normoxia group with the transfection of Si-Con (N-Si-Con) group, # versus hypoxia group with the transfection of si-Con (H-Si-Con) group, p < 0.05, n = 5. (c) The gene expression of HIF-1α in prostate cancer cells transfected with control siRNA or Si-T7 under either normoxic or hypoxic conditions as described above. Quantitative PCR was carried out to determine the HIF-1α gene expression. The results were presented as the percentage of N-Si-Con. ∗ versus N-Si-Con, p < 0.05, n = 6. (d, e) PC3 (d) and DU145 cells (e) were transfected with HIF-1α-siRNA (Si-HIF-1α) or negative control siRNA (Si-Con) for 72 h, and then the cells were exposed to hypoxia. HIF-1α, E-Cad, N-Cad, and vimentin protein expressions were determined by western blot. ∗ versus Si-Con group, p < 0.05, n = 5.