Silencing of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression by RNA interference suppresses growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma in tumor-bearing nude mice

Figure 1 Growth curves of SMMC7721 tumor in nude mice in different treated groups. ^aP < 0.01 vs pH1Si-Scramble group.

Figure 2 Comparison of tumor volume in nude mice in different treated groups. A: Mock-treated group; B: pSH1Si-Scramble group; C: pSH1Si-STAT3 group. Black arrow points to tumor tissue.

Figure 3 Tumor appearances in different treated groups. A: Mock-treated group; B: pSH1Si-Scramble group; C: pSH1Si-STAT3 group.

Figure 4 RT-PCR analysis of mRNA for STAT3 and related genes in tumor tissues of different treated groups. M: Mock-treated group; N: pSH1Si-Scramble group; T: pSH1Si-STAT3 group. ^aP < 0.01 vs pSH1Si-Scramble group.

Figure 5 Western blotting analysis of STAT3 and related genes protein in tumor tissues in nude mice in different treated groups. ^aP < 0.01 vs pSH1Si-Scramble group.

Figure 6 Detection of p-STAT3 protein expression by immunohistochemical assay of tumor tissues in nude mice in different treated groups (streptavidin biotin complex, × 400). A: Mock-treated group; B: pSH1Si-Scramble group; C: pSH1Si-STAT3 group. Black arrows point to positive cells, which were stained brown in the nucleus, using antibodies to p-STAT3.

Figure 7 Tumor tissues in nude mice in different treated groups (HE, × 400). A: Mock-treated group; B: pSH1Si-Scramble group; C: pSH1Si-STAT3 group. Black arrow points to positive cells, which had karyopyknosis and red staining of the cytoplasm.

Figure 8 Detection of apoptosis with TUNEL assay in tumor tissues of tumor-bearing nude mice in different treated groups (× 400). A: Mock-treated group; B: pSH1Si-Scramble group; C: pSH1Si-STAT3 group, black arrow points to positive cells, in which the nuclei were stained brown.