Fig. 3: HBP1 methylation alleviates HBP1-mediated suppression of metastasis and growth of tumor cells.

A–D PRMT1-mediated HBP1 methylation participates in PRMT1-induced metastasis in tumor cells. A The protein levels of metastasis-related markers were detected by western blotting in HeLa cells transfected with PRMT1 with or without HBP1. B The protein levels of metastasis-related markers were detected by western blotting in HeLa cells transfected with shPRMT1 with or without shHBP1. C The migratory and invasive potential of HeLa cells transfected with PRMT1 with or without HBP1 were measured by Transwell assay (n = 4, one-way ANOVA). Scale bar, 200 µm. D The migratory and invasive potential of HeLa cells transfected with shPRMT1 with or without shHBP1 were measured by Transwell assay (n = 4, one-way ANOVA). Scale bar, 200 µm. E, G HBP1 methylation alleviates HBP1-mediated suppression of metastasis of tumor cells. E HeLa and MGC803 cells were transfected with empty vector, HBP1 or R378A and the protein levels of metastasis-related markers were verified by western blotting. F The migratory and invasive potential of HeLa and MGC803 cells transfected with empty vector, HBP1, or R378A were measured by Transwell assay (n = 4, one-way ANOVA). Scale bar, 200 µm. G The empty vector, HBP1 and R378A stably transfected HeLa cells were injected into nude mice via the tail vein. Visible lung tumors were quantitatively analyzed (top and right panels). Representative images and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of metastatic lung tumors are shown (bottom panels) (n = 5, one-way ANOVA). Scale bar, 200 µm. H–K HBP1 methylation alleviates its inhibition of tumor growth. H HeLa and MGC803 cells were stably transfected with empty vector, HBP1 or R378A and the levels of PTEN, p-AKT and AKT were measured by western blotting. I, J Proliferation rates of the cells above were measured by MTT (n = 3, one-way ANOVA) (I) and EdU (J) (n = 7, one-way ANOVA) assays. K HeLa cells stably transfected with empty vector, HBP1 or R378A were subcutaneously injected into nude mice. Tumor volume and weight were quantitatively analyzed after 4 weeks (n = 4, one-way ANOVA). Date were the mean ± SD. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.