HIF-1α induces VE-cadherin expression and modulates vasculogenic mimicry in esophageal carcinoma cells

Figure 5 Knockdown of VE-cadherin inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells. A: shRNA-mediated VE-cadherin knockdown inhibits the proliferation of ESCC cells. Eca109, TE13 and their derived stable cells were cultured under normoxic conditions and proliferation was determined by MTT assay; ^aP < 0.05; B: shRNA-mediated VE-cadherin knockdown promoted apoptosis of ESCC cells. Eca109, TE13 and their derived stable cells were cultured under normoxic or hypoxic conditions and apoptosis was detected by Annexin V staining. ESCC: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.