Fig. 6: Cells with Emerin-rich (EMD-rich) MN exhibit increased migratory and invasive potential.

a Analysis of the percentage area of collagen fibers in primary tumors with a normal Emerin expression pattern (n = 256) and Emerin pauperization (n = 25) using Picrosirius Red staining. b Quantification of Emerin-rich MN in cells grown under different conditions: 0.5 kPa collagen-coated hydrogel (n = 15 fields of view), 50 kPa collagen-coated hydrogel (n = 18 fields of view), and collagen-coated glass (n = 13 fields of view). For all quantifications, >250 cells were used. c Quantification of Emerin-rich MN/nuclei in PC-3 cells cultured under control conditions (n = 13 fields of view with >250 cells) and in cells that passed through 8 µm pores (n = 25 fields of view with >250 cells). d Quantification of Emerin-rich MN/nuclei in PC-3 cells cultured under control conditions (n = 19 fields of view with >250 cells) and in cells that invaded a collagen layer (n = 28 fields of view with >250 cells) in a collagen invasion assay. e Assessment of Emerin-rich MN in spheroids cultured in Matrigel alone (n = 39 spheroids) and in collagen-supplemented Matrigel (n = 58 spheroids). f Assessment of Emerin-rich MN/nuclei in noninvading (n = 55 spheroids) and invading (n = 43 spheroids) spheroids formed from PC-3 cells in 3D culture. g Gene Ontology analysis of downregulated genes in spheroids grown in a collagen-enriched microenvironment. h Downregulation of two genes associated with DNA repair, BRCA2 and XRCC2, in a collagen-enriched microenvironment; 3 independent experiments. Scatter plot with bar (mean with SDSD): Mann‒Whitney U-test. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ****p < 0.0001; ns, not significant.