Fig. 7: TFAM mediates SQLE function in activating mitochondrial OXPHOS and cell proliferation.

A Western blot analysis of TFAM in paired tumor and adjacent normal tissues (n = 8, obtained from the Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital). B Representative immunofluorescent staining illustrating the expression of TFAM protein in BCa tissues as compared to adjacent normal tissues. Staining for TFAM (Green), DAPI (Blue) (n = 5 from the Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital). C Correlation analysis between SQLE and TFAM protein expression from TMA. D Representative immunofluorescent staining of TFAM protein in subcutaneous tumors derived from UMUC3 cells with or without SQLE knockout (n = 4). E Western blots analysis of TFAM expression in 647V-sgSQLE and UMUC3-sgSQLE cells following the overexpression of TFAM. F The effects of TFAM overexpression in 647V-sgSQLE and UMUC3-sgSQLE cells on respiratory capacity (n = 3, performed in triplicate). The impact of TFAM overexpression in 647V-sgSQLE and UMUC3-sgSQLE cells on cellular viability as assessed by growth curves (G) (n = 3, performed in triplicate), colony formation assays (H) (n = 3, performed in triplicate), wound healing assays (I) (n = 3, performed in triplicate), and transwell migration assays (J) (n = 3, performed in triplicate). Data are presented as means ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. Paired, two-tailed Student’s t-test (A, B). Unpaired, two-tailed Student’s t-test (D, F, H, I, J). Difference in cell viability between the two groups was evaluated through ANOVA with repeated-measures analysis of variances (G). Scale bars, 20 μm (B, D). Scale bars, 500 μm (C).