Figure 5.

NEK7 promoted cancer–stromal interaction by activating HSC. (A) In indirect coculture experiments, first HSCs were seeded, and 24 h later, medium was replaced and transwell chambers (3-μm pores; Becton Dickinson) were placed in 24-well dishes, and then cells were seeded into the transwell chambers. After incubation for 2 days, HSCs in the lower chamber were collected and total protein was extracted. (B) Western blot of ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, and α-SMA levels in HSCs, alone, or after coculture with HCCs. (C) shControl or shNEK cells direct the coculture model, coculture promoted the migration of both cancer cells and HSCs, meanwhile downregulation of NEK7 impaired the migration ability. Original magnification: ×100. Scale bars = 100 μm. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.