Reactive oxygen species-induced activation of Yes-associated protein-1 through the c-Myc pathway is a therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 2 The effects of Yes-associated protein-1 on the proliferation of reactive oxygen species reactive oxygen species -exposed hepatocellular carcinoma cells. A: An MTS assay was performed on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells that were treated with H₂O₂ (0-350 μmol/L), and the reactive oxygen species levels were increased by intervals of 50 μmol/L. The data are expressed as the mean ± SD of percent changes of optical densities. The experiment was repeated three times; B: Yes-associated protein-1 (YAP-1) small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection significantly suppressed YAP-1 mRNA expression compared to control siRNA transfection in HCC cells (P < 0.05). The data are expressed as the mean ± SD. The experiment was repeated three times; C: When HCC cells were transfected with YAP-1 siRNA, the proliferation of HCC cells was significantly decreased compared with control siRNA transfection based on the MTS assay results (P < 0.05). The data are expressed as the mean ± SD of percent changes of optical densities. The experiment was repeated three times; D: When HCC cells were treated with verteporfin (1000 nmol/L), the proliferation of HCC cells was significantly decreased compared with the control treatment based on the MTS assay results (P < 0.05). The data are expressed as the mean ± SD of percent changes of optical densities. The experiment was repeated three times. YAP: Yes-associated protein; siRNA: Small interfering RNA; VP: Verteporfin.