Figure 1
In vitro analysis of tumorigenic capacity of BXPC3 CSCs after PRP treatment. (A) Antiproliferative activity of PRP against CSCs from pancreatic BXPC3 cell line. (B) Decreased ALDH1 activity and CSCs markers expression: CD44, CD326 and CXCR4 in BXPC3 CSCs. (C) Representative confocal images of CD44, CxCR-4 and CD326 expression in BxPC3 treated and control CSCs. CD44, CD326 and CxCR-4 expression were detected in red and nuclei were counterstained with DAPI (blue). Scale bar represents 40 μm. (D) Western blot analysis of CD44, CD326 and CxCR-4 in BXPC3 CSCs treated with PRP versus non-treated. Β-actin and GAPDH were used as a internal controls. (E) Representative images of BXPC-3 primary and secondary spheres treated with PRP (T/C 0.07/0.42 mg/mL) at 48 and 72 hours after treatment. Scale bar represents 50 μm. (F) In vitro proliferation assay on BXPC-3 CSCs after treatment with PRP and gemcitabine. BXPC-3 primary and secondary spheres were incubated with PRP, gemcitabine (0,01 μM treatment) or with a combination of PRP/gemcitabine 72 h. The PRP, gemcitabine and combination of PRP and gemcitabine treatment resulted in a statistically significant decrease in primary and secondary CSCs spheres compared to control. Statistical significance indicated **p < 0.01. vs. samples not treated.
