Figure 7: Effect of Itgb1 downregulation on MET signalling and expression in mouse HCC.

(a) Analysis of expression and phosphorylation of MET and β-catenin in tumour tissues treated with siRNA. (b) Western blot (a) quantification (n=3–4, means±s.e.m., comparison by the Turkey post hoc test). For Itgb1 knockdown validation see Fig. 8a. (c) Immunohistochemical analysis of expression of MET and β-catenin in tumour nodules. Scale bar, 100 and 400 μm, correspondingly. Arrowheads indicate cytoplasmic and arrows indicate membrane expression of MET. (d) Analysis of hβCatenin and hMET oncogenes mRNA levels by qPCR (n=5. P-levels—comparison by the Turkey post hoc test, versus the si-Control-treated group. (e) Expression of MET, ITGB1 and phosphorylated FAK in Hep3B cells treated with siRNA. (f) Quantification of (e), 4–6 independent transfections were analysed, mean±s.e.m., P-levels—comparison by the Student t-test. (g) Confirmation of ITGB1 mRNA knockdown and MET and CTTB1 mRNA levels in Hep3B cells by qPCR, mean±s.e.m., P-levels—comparison by the Student t-test. NTC, non-tumour control mice. Light grey, si-Control treated; dark grey, si-Itgb1-treated cells.