Fig. 2: C1QL1 inhibits BrCa cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo.

a, b Confirmation of C1QL1-overexpression determined by qRT–PCR (a) and western blot (b). c, d Ectopic C1QL1 expression inhibits cell growth, analyzed by a CCK-8 kit (c) and colony formation in BrCa cells (d). e–g Ectopically expressed C1QL1 induced cell cycle arrest (e) and cell apoptosis tested by flow cytometry analysis (f) and a TUNEL assay (g). h Photographs of the collected tumors. MDA-MB-231 cells stably expressing the vector and Flag-C1QL1 were subcutaneously injected into BALB/c nude mice (n = 7). After 16 days of injection, xenograft tumors were collected. i The comparative tumor growth curve of the vector and C1QL1 groups. j The weights of vector-group and C1QL1-group tumors (n = 7). k Representative images of C1QL1 expression, H&E staining and PCNA expression. Apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL assays in xenograft tissues. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.05 and ***P < 0.005.