Fig. 6

Effects of VPA, metformin or their combination on the pAKT pathways, EMT markers, the stem-like marker and histone 3 acylation in 786-M-R. a) 786-M-R cells were cultured with VPA 1 mM (VPA), metformin 10 mM (Met) or a combination (V + M) for 48 h. Western blot analysis of cell signalling proteins was performed. *P < 0.05 vs control, ^#P < 0.05 vs metformin group. b 786-M-R cells were cultured with VPA 1 mM (VPA), metformin 10 mM (Met) or a combination (V + M) for 48 h. Western blot analysis of EMT markers and stem-like marker was performed. *P < 0.05 vs control, ^#P < 0.05 vs metformin group. c Immunofluorescence analysis of aH3 expression in 786-M-R cells treated with VPA, metformin (Met) or their combination (VPA + Met). (200× magnification; Bar, 50 μm). d 786-M-R cells were cultured with thrichostatin A 200 nM (TSA), metformin 10 mM (Met) or a combination (T + M) for 48 h. Western blot analysis of aH3, pAKT, pSMAD3, SMAD4, E-cadherin and ZEB1 were performed. *P < 0.05 vs control, ^#P < 0.05 vs metformin group. e The effects on histone 3 acetylation and pAKT in 786-M-R cells treated with various drugs that regulate AKT signalling. AKT inhibitor IV, AKT inhibitor; SC79, AKT activator; LY294002, PI3K inhibitor; Rapamycin, mTORC1 inhibitor; and DMSO as control. *P < 0.05 vs control, ^#P < 0.05 vs DMSO group