Fig. 7

HNF3γ sensitizes HCC cells to sorafenib treatment. a HCCLM3 cells infected with Ad-HNF3γ or Ad-Con were treated with sorafenib (10 µM or 20 µM) for 24 h, and apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry. Results were expressed as means ± SEM. b HCC cells infected with Ad-HNF3γ or Ad-Con were treated with sorafenib (10 µM) for 48 h and then subjected to western blot analysis. c The expression of OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 in HCC cells infected with Ad-HNF3γ or Ad-Con was determined by real-time PCR. d HCCLM3 cells were subjected to a ChIP assay with anti-HNF3γ or anti-IgG antibody followed by qPCR analysis. e HCCLM3 or Huh7 cells were infected with Ad-HNF3γ or Ad-Con followed by siRNA transfection as indicated. The cells were then treated with sorafenib for 48 h, and the intracellular sorafenib was determined by mass spectroscopy as described in “Methods”. f Schematic diagram of HNF3γ-enhanced HCC cell differentiation and sorafenib response