Fig. 2

SOX2 is critical for the migration of breast cancer cells. a SOX2 knockdown suppresses the migration of ZR7530 and MDA-MB-231 cells in the wound-healing assay. b Quantification of cells migrating across the red lines in a. Data are represented as mean ± SD (n = 3 for each group, p < 0.05). c Down-regulation of SOX2 leads to reduced migration of breast cancer cells through the membrane in the transwell assay. d Quantification of cells that are present in the lower side of the transwell membrane. Data are represented as mean ± SD (n = 3 for each group, p < 0.05). e The intensity of dissolved violet staining is correlated with reduced number of cancer cells migrating through the membrane upon SOX2 knockdown. Cells stained with crystal violet at the lower side of the membrane were lysed and dissolved with acetic acid. The intensity was measured at an absorbance of 560 nm. * indicates p < 0.05, ** indicates p < 0.01, *** indicates p < 0.001 vs control, and the error bars indicate the mean ± standard deviation (SD)