NOX4 promotes tumor progression through the MAPK-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 axis in colorectal cancer

Figure 5 Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 promotes activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/MEK1/2/ERK1/2 signaling. A: Principal component analysis of the transcription patterns in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4)-overexpressing RKO (RKO-OE) and wild-type (RKO-Ctrl) cells; B: Volcano map showing the differentially expressed genes between RKO-OE and RKO-Ctrl cells; C: Bar plot showing top ten Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; D: Pattern diagram showing the RAS-RAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 axis; E: Western blot analysis showing the expression of NOX4, MEK, pMEK, ERK, pERK in RKO-OE and RKO-Ctrl cells, cultured with or without trametinib; F-J: Clone formation, invasion, migration, sphere formation in RKO-OE and RKO-Ctrl cells, cultured with or without trametinib. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01. NOX4: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4; FC: Fold change; MAPK: Mitogen-activated protein kinase.