Fig. 4

IL6R overexpression enhances the growth and invasion of glioma cells. a In N2 cells, IL6R was overexpressed several-fold compared with the empty vector transfected N2 cells with low endogenous IL6R expression. b IL6R overexpression markedly increased the proliferation of N2 cells, as evaluated by the MTS assay. c Representative microphotographs showing the detection of apoptotic cells using the TUNEL assay in control and IL6R overexpressing N2 cells. Scale bar = 25 μm. Histogram showing the quantification of the apoptotic rate. d Representative microphotographs showing that overexpression of IL6R in N2 cells resulted in increased invasion through matrigel-coated filters. Scale bar = 50 μm. Histogram showing the quantification of the invasive cells. e The wound healing assay showing that overexpression of IL6R in N2 cells promoted migration. Scale bar = 500 μm. Histogram showing the quantification of the migration rate. f IL6R overexpression increased the colony formation rate of N2 cells. Scale bar = 50 μm. g Representative images of the effect of IL6R overexpression on N2 GSC neurospheres. Scale bars = 50 μm. Histograms showing the quantification of relative sizes and numbers of indicated neurospheres. Results are presented as mean ± SEM of triplicate samples from three independent experiments. *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01. OE: overexpression; EV: empty vector