Fig. 6: Hirudin promotes the conversion of cellular junctions between CTC clusters from desmosomal junctions to adhesion junctions by inhibiting DSG2. | Experimental & Molecular Medicine

Fig. 6: Hirudin promotes the conversion of cellular junctions between CTC clusters from desmosomal junctions to adhesion junctions by inhibiting DSG2.

From: Hirudin suppresses hematogenous metastasis by targeting desmosome junction transition in circulating tumor cell clusters via HIF-1α–DSG2 signaling

Fig. 6: Hirudin promotes the conversion of cellular junctions between CTC clusters from desmosomal junctions to adhesion junctions by inhibiting DSG2.The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

a Representative images and quantitative analysis of intercellular adhesion in MCF-7 cell clusters following 24-h hirudin treatment under three conditions: wild type (Si-Cont), DSG2-knockdown (Si-DSG2) and DSG2-reconstituted (+ recombinant DSG2) groups. Upper layer: MCF-7-GFP; lower layer: MCF-7. n = 3. Data are mean ± s.d., **P < 0.01. b Transmission electron microscopy showing desmosomes (yellow arrows) and adherent junctions (AJ) in MCF-7 cell clusters after 24-h hirudin treatment. n = 3. c–e WB analysis and grayscale quantification of DSG2 and E-cadherin expression in MCF-7 cell clusters following 24-h hirudin treatment. n = 3. f Immunofluorescence analysis of DSG2 expression in MCF-7 cell clusters after 24-h hirudin treatment, with mean fluorescence intensity quantification. n = 3. g Immunofluorescence costaining of E-cadherin and DSG2 in MCF-7 cell clusters treated with hirudin for 24 h. n = 3. h Morphology of CTC clusters formed by DSG2 knockdown or recombinant DSG2-treated MCF-7 cells after 24-h hirudin treatment, with quantification of clusters area percentage. n = 3. i Transmission electron microscopy images of desmosomes (yellow arrows) and AJ in MCF-7 cell clusters with or without DSG2 knockdown following 24 h of hirudin treatment. n = 3. Data are mean ± s.d., *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.

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