Fig. 2

NE induced mesenchymal-like phenotype of glioma cells. The cell morphology and the levels of mesenchymal markers were assessed upon NE treatment. A-B The morphologies and the increased cellular diameters in NE-treated U251 (A, n = 20, p = 0.0001) and LN229 cells (B, n = 20, p = 0.0001) were shown. Scale bar, 20 μm. Student’s t-test was used for statistical analysis. C Real-time PCR analysis revealed elevated mRNA levels of N-cadherin (U251, p = 0.027; LN229, p = 0.003), Fibronectin1 (U251, p = 0.031; LN229, p = 0.006) and Vimentin (U251, p = 0.012; LN229, p = 0.018) in NE-treated U251 (n = 3) and LN229 (n = 3) cells. Student’s t-test was used for statistical analysis. D Western blot assay showed a various increase on the protein levels of these mesenchymal markers with NE administration. The relative levels of protein were marked as the mean number underlying the band images. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01