Fig. 2

BICC1 promotes tumor angiogenesis in PAAD. a Representative images of immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining for BICC1 and CD34 in human PAAD tissues. b Quantification of MVD in BICC1 high and low groups based on IHC results in (a). c The indicated PAAD cells were transduced with lentiviruses to overexpress or knock down BICC1. Western blotting was performed to verify the BICC1 expression in these cell lines. d–f KPC cells were orthotopically transplanted to the pancreas of C57BL/6 mice to develop tumors. IHC staining for CD34 was performed to determine the MVD in tumor tissues. Representative images of IHC staining for BICC1 and CD34 (d), MVD (e), and tumor volume measured by Bioluminescence imaging f of the indicated group are shown. g and h Supernatants from indicated cells were used as the CM in the tube formation assays. The tube density and the branch points per field are presented; recombinant VEGFA (50 ng/mL) was used as a positive control. i and j Matrigel plug supplemented with CM or mouse basic fibroblast growth factor (50 ng/ml) were subcutaneously injected into the middle line of the back in C57BL/6 mice. Representative images of HE-stained and CD34 immunofluorescence-stained sections are shown (i). Hemoglobin content and MVD in each group were analyzed (j). Data are presented as mean ± SD; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01,***p < 0.001 in unpaired t-test; scale bars, 100 μm