Fig. 4: TFF3 utilizes STAT3 activity to stimulate mitogenesis, promote resistance against apoptosis, and increase cell viability of immortalized-HMECs in 3D Matrigel culture.

a BrdU incorporation in immortalized-HMECs with forced expression of TFF3 and their vector control cells after transient-transfection of STAT3 DN or on exposure to JSI-124 (0.2 µM) or Stattic (2 µM) inhibitor. b Caspase 3/7 activity in immortalized-HMECs with forced expression of TFF3 and their vector control cells after transient-transfection of STAT3 DN or on exposure to JSI-124 (0.2 µM) or Stattic (2 µM) inhibitor. c Apoptotic cell death in immortalized-HMECs with forced expression of TFF3 and their vector control cells upon on exposure to JSI-124 (0.2 µM) or Stattic (2 µM) inhibitor. d Cell viability of immortalized-HMECs with forced expression of TFF3 and their vector control cells in 3D Matrigel culture monitored by AlamarBlue® assay. Inhibition of STAT3 was executed upon exposure to JSI-124 (0.2 µM) or Stattic (2 µM) inhibitor. Control cells were exposed to DMSO. Numbers denoted with red colour in X-axis indicate the day of inhibitor exposure. All assays were performed as described in Material and Methods. Column or chart point is mean of triplicate experiments; bars, ±SD. **P < 0.001, *P < 0.05