Fig. 1: Expression of HSPB8 in melanoma cell lines.

a Analysis of HSPB8 gene expression in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) vs normal tissue (skin) as reported in OncoDB database. Scatter plot represents the mean of HSPB8 expression value (red line) obtained from RNA-Seq data normalized using Transcripts Per Million (TPM). Student’s t-test (****p < 0.0001) b HSPB8 expression levels in different melanoma cell lines compared with human melanocytes and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Tubulin was used as loading control. Three independent biological samples for each condition were analyzed (N = 3), bar graph represents the mean optical density ± SD. c HSPB8 mRNA expression in different melanoma cell lines analyzed by RT-qPCR. Data have been normalized to the amount of RPLP0 mRNA. Bar graph represents the mean of four independent biological samples (N = 4) ±SD. d, e HSPB8 WB analysis of BLM (d) and A375 (e) cells overexpressing HSPB8. f, g Cell count assay was performed in BLM (f) and A375 (g) cells overexpressing HSPB8. Four independent biological samples for each condition were analyzed (N = 4), bar graph represents the mean relative cell count ± SD. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test (*p < 0.05 vs. mock 24 h; ***p < 0.001 vs. mock 24 h and 48 h). h, i Cell viability assay was performed in BLM (h) and A375 (i) cells overexpressing HSPB8. Six independent biological samples for each condition were analyzed (N = 6), bar graph represents the mean relative cell viability ± SD. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test (**p < 0.01 vs. mock 24 h; ***p < 0.001 vs. mock 24 h and 48 h).