Figure 11. HA promotes tumor cell growth and invasiveness.

(A) Representative IHC images and quantification of Ki67⁺ cells in Pan02 and CMT93 models in Has2^fl/fl and Has2^ΔHSC animals (n = 7–8 per group). Scale bars: 100 μm. (B and C) Representative images and quantification of in vitro Matrigel assay, with cells seeded in the center and invading cells in the periphery in Matrigel alone, Matrigel and high-molecular-weight HA, Matrigel and HA and type 1 collagen, or Matrigel and type 1 collagen (HA and type I collagen: 2.5 mg/ml) day 6 after seeding (n = 3–4 per group each). (D) Coinjection of Has2^fl/fl and Has2^ΔHSC with tumor cells (Pan02 or CMT93) in RAG2^–/– mice. (E and F) Representative images and quantification of cocultured spheroids (D) or 2D cocultures (E) and Ki67⁺ cells comprising Has2^fl/fl and Has2^ΔHSC with Pan02 tumor cells. Statistics were done using 2-tailed unpaired t test or Mann Whitney U test dependent on data distribution (A and D–F) or 1-way ANOVA using Fisher’s LSD test (B and C). Data are shown as the mean ± SEM.