Fig. 3

Matrix stiffness facilitates activation of FAK/ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway through integrin β1. A The protein level of p-FAK, total FAK, p-ERK1/2, total ERK in SMMC-7721 cells cultured in tunable PA hydrogels with low stiffness (12 kPa) and high stiffness (16 kPa), as well as the integrin β1 silenced SMMC-7721 cells cultured in high stiffness, measured by western blotting. B-D The relative cells proliferation (B), the relative migrative cells number (C), the relative colony number (D) of SMMC-7721 cells treated with PBS, SCH772984 (2 nM) or PF-573228 (3 nM) respectively, cultured in high matrix stiffness. E The protein expression level of NF-κB in SMMC-7721 cells cultured in tunable PA hydrogels with low stiffness (12 kPa) and high stiffness (16 kPa), as well as the integrin β1 silenced SMMC-7721 cells cultured in high stiffness, measured by western blot. F-H The relative cells proliferation (F), the relative migrative cells number (G), the relative colony number (H) of SMMC-7721 cells treated with PBS, JSH-23 (5 μM) respectively, cultured in high matrix stiffness. I, J Immunofluorescence analysis of phosphorylated FAK, ERK1/2 (I) and NF-κB (J) in tumor tissues from tumor tissues with high degree malignant (HD) or low degree malignant; scale bar, 20 μm. Data represent mean ± SD, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 or as indicated