Connective tissue growth factor is overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma and promotes cell invasion and growth

Figure 3 Connective tissue growth factor induces HepG2 cell migration or invasion in vitro. A: HepG2 cell migration assays were performed by placing the cells in culture inserts followed by incubation in a 12-well companion plate for 6 h in the absence (control) or presence of connective tissue growth factor (100 ng/mL) or transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) (20 ng/mL) in the lower chamber; B: HepG2 cell invasion assays were performed by placing the cells in culture inserts followed by incubation in a 24-well companion plate for 24 h in the absence (control) or presence of connective tissue growth factor (100 ng/mL) or TGF-β1 (20 ng/mL) in the lower chamber. For inhibitory studies, HepG2 cells were incubated with 25 μg/mL anti-connective tissue growth factor (CCN2), or normal mouse immunoglobulin G during treatment with TGF-β1. ^bP < 0.01 vs control or CCN2 group; ^cP < 0.05 vs TGF-β1 group.