Figure 4.

hsa_circ_0072309 overexpression inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ-dependent PTEN pathway. (A) The viability of AGS cells in the four groups (control, Oe-circ_0072309, Oe-circ_0072309 + pioglitazone and Oe-circ_0072309 + GW9662) was determined using Cell Counting Kit-8assays. (B) The proliferative ability of the various AGS cells was assessed using colony formation assays. The (C and D) migratory and (E and F) invasive capabilities of AGS cells in the four groups were analyzed using wound healing and Transwell assays. Scale bar, 100 µm. (G) The expression levels of MMP7 and MMP9 were determined using western blotting. Error bars represent the mean ± SEM from three independent experiments. ***P<0.001 vs. control; ^#P<0.05, ^##P<0.01 vs. Oe-circ_0072309. circ, circular RNA; Oe, overexpression vector; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase.