Fig. 3: Downregulation of circUBE2J2 promoted HCC migration both in vitro and in vivo.

A The wound healing of HCC cell. B Cell migration and invasion were assessed in both HepG2 and MHCC97H cells using transwell assays. C Western blot analysis for the relative levels of EMT-relevant protein expression in HepG2 and MHCC97H cells. D–I Tumor growth in HCC cells with the forced expression of circUBE2J2 was investigated by nude mice orthotopic tumor models. In orthotopic model mice, representative images of the liver (D, F). The size of the largest visible liver nodule was measured (E, G). Quantifications of visible surface liver metastatic nodules (H, I). Data are presented as mean ± SD; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; NS no significance. OE overexpression; sh-circ transfected with lentivirus for circUBE2J2-specific shRNA; sh-NC transfected with control lentivirus.