Fig. 4

miR-181b regulates colony formation of SFCs association with STAT3. a qPCR analysis of miR-181b in Eca109 parental cells and SFCs. U6 snRNA served as an internal control. b qPCR analysis of CD44 and CD24 in SFCs treated with miR-181b mimic or miR-181b inhibitor. c mRNA expression levels of ABCB1, ABCG2, and MRP1 in SFCs treated with miR-181b mimic or miR-181b inhibitor. d Colony formation detection of SFCs treated with miR-181b or miR-181b inhibitor in soft agar. Colonies formed were stained with 0.5 % crystal violet. Scale bar = 10 mm. e Colony formation size detection of SFCs. SFCs were dissociated with trypsin and were transduced with miR-181b mimic or miR-181b inhibitor conjugated with FAM. Scale bar = 50 μm. f Western blot analysis of p-STAT3 and STAT3 in SFCs treated with miR-181b mimic or with miR-181b inhibitor and JSI-124. JSI-124 is a suppressor of p-STAT3. β-Actin and U6 snRNA served as internal controls. FAM, 5(6)-Carboxyfluorescein. SFCs, sphere formation cells. Error bars represent mean ± SD