Fig. 1
From: The permissive role of TCTP in PM2.5/NNK-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition in lung cells
Both TCTP expression and EMT were involved in PM2.5- and NNK-induced lung carcinogenesis. a PM2.5 or NNK treatment promoted TCTP expression and EMT. Cells were treated with 5 µg/ml PM2.5 or 10 µM NNK for 28 days. Cells without treatment were the control condition. Proteins expression was examined as indicated. The quantification of protein was carried out by densitometry analysis, and the result was presented by the relative intensity of the control condition based on actin normalization for total protein. The relative intensity of protein bands was summarized by column figure. The values indicate the mean ± SD of three independent experiments (Ctr: non-treatment control; P: PM2.5; N: NNK; *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 vs Ctr. b PM2.5 and NNK treatment induced mesenchymal transformation of the cells. Cells were treated by PM2.5 or NNK for 28 days. Non-treated cells were set up as control. Images were taken using phase contrast microscope (Nikon) (scale bar, 20 μm). c Tumor formation assay and d tumorigenicity assay in nude mice. NCI-H23 cells untreated or treated by PM2.5 and NNK respectively for 28 days were S.C. implanted into the nude mice. Tumor formation rate was calculated after 2 weeks. Data are the average rate expressed as the mean ± SD of nine mice. The growth of tumors as indicated by tumor volume was detected after 6 weeks. Data are the average tumor volume expressed as the mean ± SD of eight mice. *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 vs control group. e Detection of TCTP and EMT markers in the xenografts of NCI-H23 cells. After 6 weeks of injection, three of each group of tumor tissue proteins from the xenografts were pooled respectively and examined as indicated. The quantification of protein was carried out by densitometry analysis, and the result was presented by the relative intensity of the control condition based on actin normalization for total protein expressed. The relative intensity of protein bands was summarized by column figure. The values indicate the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 vs control group