Fig. 3

ASAP2 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth. A ASAP2 expression states in normal and HCC cells as determined by qRT-PCR and western blot (WB) assays. B ASAP2 knockdown efficiencies in SNU182 (left) and SNU387 (right) cells were assessed by WB assays. C ASAP2 overexpression efficiency in Hep3B cells was evaluated by WB assays. D The proliferation rates of SNU182 (left) and SNU387 (right) cells with ASAP2 knockdown cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assays. E Proliferation rates of Hep3B cells with ASAP2 overexpression cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS were evaluated by CCK8 assays. F Proliferation rates of SNU182 (left) and SNU387 (right) cells with ASAP2 knockdown were evaluated by colony formation assays; Cells were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS for 14 days and stained with crystal violet. G Proliferation rates of Hep3B cells with ASAP2 overexpression were evaluated by colony formation assays; Cells were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS for 14 days and stained with crystal violet. H Apoptosis rates in SNU182 (left) and SNU387 (right) cells after ASAP2 knockdown were evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. I Apoptosis rates in Hep3B cells after ASAP2 overexpression were evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. J Protein expression levels of the indicated markers after ASAP2 knockdown in SNU182 (left) and SNU387 (right) cells were assessed by WB assays. K Protein expression levels of the indicated markers after ASAP2 overexpression in Hep3B cells were assessed by WB assays. L Mice were injected with shControl-SNU182/SNU387 or ASAP2-knockdown SNU182/SNU387 cells to generate subcutaneous mice models. Recipient mice were sacrificed 4 weeks after transplantation; Tumor tissues are shown in the upper panel (n = 6 per group) and the corresponding tumor volumes are shown in the lower panel. “ns” indicates no significance