Fig. 3

miR-338-3p knockdown promotes liver CSCs self-renewal and tumor development. (A) RT-PCR experiment confirmed the infection of Huh7 and Hep3B cells with the miR-338-3p knockdown virus. (B, C) RT-PCR analysis of CD133 and CD90 expression in miR-338-3p-knockdown and control HCC cells. (D) MiR-338-3p knockdown and control HCC cells were tested for their ability to form spheroids. Representative images of spheres are shown. (E) Using an in vitro LDA, we evaluated the level of hepatic CSCs in cells with and without miR-338-3p. (F) miR-338-3p knockdown and control HCC cells were tested using an in vivo LDA. After 8 weeks, tumors from each group (n = 6) were analyzed. Error bars shows mean ± SD derived from n = 3 independent experiments, *p < 0.05;NS p > 0.05.