Fig. 2

Downregulation of SGOL2 expression inhibited the malignant behaviors of HCC cells in vitro. A The mRNA level of SGOL2 in liver and HCC cell lines. B-C, SK-HEP-1, and HEP3B cells were transfected with shNC or shSGOL2 lentivirus, and the knockdown of SGOL2 at the mRNA and protein levels was validated by RT–PCR and Western blots, respectively. GAPDH was used as a loading control. D-G Invasion, migration, sphere formation, and colony formation assays of the SGOL2-downregulated HCC cells were detected and analyzed. H-I Downregulation of SGOL2 expression induced cell cycle arrest in the G1/S phase and activated the apoptosis of HCC cells. J SK-HEP-1, and HEP3B cells were transfected with shNC or shSGOL2, and the proliferation of HCC cells was detected at Days 0, 1, 2, and 3 by CCK-8 assays. K Effect of SGOL2 on the EMT in HCC cell lines. SK-HEP-1 and HEP3B cells were transfected with shNC or shSGOL2, and Western blots were used to detect the levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin, Vimentin, fibronectin, and MMP9. The results are presented as the mean ± SD, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001