Fig. 6: TINCR promoted self-renewal of LCSCs by regulating PTBP1-mediated autophagy.

PTBP1 overexpressed vector and shRNA targeting TINCR co-transfected LCSCs. Involvement of PTBP1 was evaluated by western blotting (A), confocal microscope (B, scale bar: 10 μm), and TEM assay (C). D PTBP1 overexpression restored the oncosphere formation ability reduced by TINCR depletion. E Stem factors (POU5F1, SOX2, Nanog) were detected by qRT-PCR in the treated LCSCs. F The treated LCSCs derived from HCCLM3 and MHCC97H were diluted and subcutaneously implanted into BALB/c nude mice. Data are shown as means ± SD. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.