Figure 3
From: MMP28 (epilysin) as a novel promoter of invasion and metastasis in gastric cancer
MMP28 positively regulates tumor cell invasion and metastasis. (A) Western Blot of MMP in parental (Pa), transfected control (N87-Ve) and MMP overexpressing (N87-C9 and N87-C10) N87 stable sub-lines. (B) Number of invasive cells in transwell invasion assays was significantly different in parental (Pa: 11.8 ± 3.19) and transfected control cells (N87-Ve: 11 ± 2.09) compared to MMP overexpressing stable N87 sub-lines (N87-C9: 60.8 ± 12.17; N87-C10: 68 ± 7.94, mean ± standard error, **p < 0.01). (B) Growth curve (n = 6) of parental (N87-Pa2: 87 ± 1.45 cm3), transfected control (N87-Ve: 2.99 ± 1.24 cm3) and MMP overexpressing N87 stable sub-lines (N87-C9: 4.32 ± 2.45 cm3; N87-C10: 4.45 ± 1.38 cm3, p < 0.05). (C) Top: H&E staining showing increased xenograft tumor invasion into surrounding tissue in MMP28 overexpressing cells (N87-C9) compared to control transfected cells (N87-ve), arrows indicate area of muscular invasion. Centre: lung metastasis in control transfected (N87-ve) and MMP28 overexpressing xenografts (N87-C9) 9 weeks after subcutaneous injection. Bottom: hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining showing increased MMP28 expression, and no significant difference in Ki67 cell proliferation, in MMP28 overexpressing xenografts (N87-C9) compared to control transfected xenografts (N87-ve). (E) Characteristics of control and MMP overexpressing MMP28 tumor xenografts.