Fig. 6: Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) activates Notch by Pofut1 to enhance cell invasion and metastasis.

a A transwell assay was performed to evaluate the invasive potential of Hepa1-6 cells, Hepa1-6/Cav-1 cells, Hepa1-6/Cav-1 cells transfected with siPofut1, Hepa1-6/Cav-1 cells treated with DAPT (5 μM), Hca-F cells, Hca-F cells subjected to Cav-1 knockout, Hca-F cells transfected with siPofut1, and Hca-F cells with DAPT (5 μM). Statistical comparison using one-way analysis of variance: **P < 0.01. b Five groups (six mice in each group) of 615 mice were injected subcutaneously with Hepa1-6, Hapa1-6/Cav-1, Hepa1-6/Cav-1-siPofut1, Hca-F, and Hca-F-siPofut1 cells. After 5 weeks, the mice were sacrificed, and the inguinal lymph nodes and axillary lymph nodes were isolated and weighed. No tumor formation was observed in the inguinal and axillary lymph nodes of the mice injected with Hepa1-6 cells. Transfection of siPofut1 into Hepa1-6/Cav-1 and Hca-F cells reduced cell invasion and metastasis. c Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to visualize the metastatic nodules in tumors from mice injected with Hapa1-6/Cav-1, Hepa1-6/Cav-1-siPofut1, Hca-F, and Hca-F-siPofut1 cells. Arrows indicate tumor foci. Scale bar = 100 μm. The lymphatic metastasis rates were significantly decreased by siRNA knockdown of Pofut1in Hepa1-6/Cav-1 and Hca-F cells. Chi-square test: ***P < 0.001