Fig. 2: Ran promotes CRC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo.

a The cell proliferation capacity of Ran-knockdown HCT116 and DLD-1 cells (above) and Ran-overexpressing HT29 and SW480 cells (below), as determined by CCK-8 assay (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001). b Apoptosis rate of Ran-knockdown HCT116 and DLD-1 cells and corresponding control cells based on fluorescence-activated cell sorting (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001). c Western blot analysis of the expression of apoptotic markers in Ran-knockdown cell models. d Left: representative bioluminescence images of the tumours in nude mice are shown at 4 weeks after subcutaneous injection of Ran-knockdown HCT116 cells (above) or Ran-overexpressing SW480 cells (below) and their controls (n = 5 mice per group). Right: the tumour volume was measured every 3 days (middle). The radiance, volumes and weights of tumours were collected and compared in Ran-knockdown and Ran-overexpression models (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01). e Ki-67 staining in xenograft tumour tissues and the percentages of Ki-67-positive cells were measured. Scale bars: 50 μm (above) and 20 μm (below); *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01.