Fig. 3

Knockdown of circPPFIA1s enhances the metastatic potential of KM12C cells. A–D The effect of circPPFIA1-L and -S silencing on the metastatic potential of KM12C cells was examined. The level of circPPFIA1-L (A) and -S (C) in KM12C cells transfected with the indicated siRNA was determined by semi-qPCR (upper) and RT-qPCR (lower). Invasive and migratory abilities of transfected cells (knockdown of circPPFIA1-L (B) and -S (D)) were examined by transwell invasion and migration assays. E, F The increase in invasive and migratory abilities with knockdown of both circPPFIA1-L and circPPFIA1-S was determined by transwell invasion (E) and migration (F) assays. G, H Intrasplenic injection model (n = 7) confirmed that knockdown of circPPFIA1-L (G) and -S (H) significantly promoted liver metastasis of KM12C cells. Statistical analyses were performed using the Student’s t-test using three independent experiments (*p < 0.05). All data represent mean ± standard variation (SD)