Fig. 6

Effects of EGFR on migratory and invasive capabilities of I227T/N236D TβRII-expressing stable cells. a. I227T/N236D TβRII stable cells (227/236) were mock transfected (mock) or transfected with control siRNA (siCont) and two siRNAs targeting EGFR (siEGFR#1 and siEGFR#2). Protein level of EGFR was analyzed by western blotting. Data represent mean ± standard deviation from three independent experiments (*P < 0.05). Full length immunoblots were shown in Additional file 9: Figure S9. b. Stable cells were transfected with control siRNA (siCont) or co-transfected with two siRNAs targeting EGFR (siEGFR) and stabilized for 48 h, and then, a scratch wound was introduced in a cell monolayer, followed by incubation for 18 h in serum-free medium with vehicle (TGF- β (−)) or 10 ng/ml of TGF- β1 (TGF- β (+)). All migrated cells were counted. Data represent mean ± standard deviation (*P < 0.05, vs. control siRNA group). IRES, empty vector; WT, wild-type TβRII; 227/236, I227T/N236D TβRII. c. After siRNA transfection as in (b), I227T/N236D (227/236) cells were seeded in a transwell chamber precoated with Cellmatrix Type I-A. Cells that invaded the lower chamber were counted after 48 h of incubation in the presence of vehicle (TGF- β (−)) or 10 ng/ml of TGF- β1 (TGF- β (+)). Invaded cells were counted in five microscopic fields. Data represent mean ± standard deviation (*P < 0.05, vs. control siRNA group)