Fig. 6

LncHOXA10-SNF2L-HOXA10 pathway could be used for liver TIC targeting. a, b 1 × 10⁶ lncHOXA10 silenced (ASO, A) or overexpressed (oeLnc, B) cells were injected into BALB/c nude mice. One month later, tumors were obtained and tumor weights were shown as scatter diagram. 6 mice were used for each sample. c 1 × 10⁶ indicated cells were used for tumor propagation. Tumor weights were examined 1 month after injection. d, e The indicated tumors were obtained and immunohistochemistry analyses for HOXA10 expression. f, g Cell proliferation in the indicated tumors was analyzed by Ki67 staining and FACS. Typical contour diagrams and Ki67⁺ ratios (6 tumors per sample) were shown. h, i CD133⁺ liver TICs were gated and the proportions of CD133⁺ TICs in indicated tumors were shown. j-m CD13⁺ and EPCAM⁺ liver TICs were examined in indicated tumors and the ratios of liver TICs were shown. Six tumors were examined for each sample. n The indicated tumors were collected and crushed with RIPA lysis buffer, and cell lysate was used for SDS-PAGE, followed by Western blot to detect the expression levels of liver TIC markers. o, p 400 mm³ tumors were treated with lncHOXA10 ASO (ASO) and 5-FU, and tumor volume was measured every 3 days (o). Three weeks later, tumors were collected and TIC markers were examined by Western blot (p). q LncHOXA10 was highly expressed in liver TICs, and recruited SNF2L to HOXA10 promoter to initiate the expression of HOXA10, finally drove the self-renewal of liver TICs. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 by one-tailed Student’s t test. Data are representative of four independent experiments