Fig. 3
Cldn7 knockdown promoted cancer stem cell marker expression and EMT in CRC stem cells by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. a, b Sox9, Olfm4 and Ki67 expression increased in HCT116CD133+CD44+shCldn7 cells. EMT-related protein E-cadherin was decreased, Snail-1 and vimentin were increased. With the exception of the non obvious increase in vimentin expression, qPCR results were consistent with Western blot results (P < 0.05). c, d β-catenin protein levels did not change significantly in HCT116CD133+CD44+shCldn7 cells, but c-Myc and cyclin D1 expression increased (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of β-catenin, c-Myc and cyclin D1 in HCT116CD133+CD44+shCldn7 cells were all increased (P < 0.05). e In HCT116CD133+CD44+shCldn7 cells, β-catenin was distributed not only on the cell membrane but also in the cytoplasm and nucleus at low levels. f The expression of β-catenin in the cytoplasm of CRC stem cells did not change significantly with the downregulation of Cldn7, but the level of β-catenin in the nucleus increased