Skip to main content
Fig. 5 | Cell Communication and Signaling

Fig. 5

From: Targeting p21-activated kinase 1 inhibits growth and metastasis via Raf1/MEK1/ERK signaling in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells

Fig. 5

U0126 attenuates the aggressive effect of PAK1 on ESCC cells. a The effect of MEK inhibitor U0126 was confirmed by Western blot analysis. b U0126 significantly decreased the frequency of focus formation (left) and colony formation (right) in soft agar. PAK1-overexpressing KYSE30 and KYSE150 cells were exposed to 10 μM of U0126 for 48 h. The cells were then washed, and subjected to focus formation assay and soft agar assay. c U0126 dramatically reduced the migratory ability of PAK1-overexpressing EC109 and KYSE70 cells. PAK1-overexpressing KYSE30 and KYSE150 cells were exposed to 5 μM of U0126 for 0, and 48 h after scratching. The average gap width was used to evaluate migration. The wound breadth was normalized to the initial time point (0 h). Columns and error bars represent mean ± SD (n = 6 per group). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 by Student’s t test. Scale bars, 200 μm. d U0126 reduced the migratory and invasive abilities of PAK1-overexpressing EC109 and KYSE70 cells. PAK1-overexpressing KYSE30 and KYSE150 cells were treated with or without 5 μM U0126 for 48 h, and then underwent transwell migration and Matrigel invasion assays. Quantative analysis from 6 random fields. Scale bars: 100 μm. mean; error bar, SD. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01 by Student’s t test. e U0126 diminished the protein levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in ESCC cells. The indicated PAK1-overexpressing cells were exposed to the various concentrations of U0126 for 48 h, the whole cell lysates were then subjected to Western blotting analysis to examine the expression of MMP-2 and MM-9

Back to article page