Fig. 5

Let-7a inhibits the HCC spheres through Wnt1. a. The knockdown of Wnt1 (left) decreased the sphere forming efficiency of HCC stem cells, and abolished the functions of let-7a on self-renewal ability (right), which functioned through regulations of Wnt1/Frizzled/β-catenin pathway (left). b. In continuous culture of HCC spheres, the Wnt1 siRNA didn’t affect the self-renewal ability of let-7a1 overexpressing HCC stem-like cells, compared to Control group (VEH). c. The knockdown of Wnt1 decreased TCF-4 activity, abolished let-7a effects; similarly, the addition of Wnt1 reversed let-7a effects, increasing TCF-4 activity, and no significant differences between let-7a and Scramble group were detected. d. The addition of Wnt1 reversed the suppressive effects of let-7a on MFE