Figure S4 from Downregulation of MicroRNA-644a Promotes Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Aggressiveness and Stem Cell–like Phenotype via Dysregulation of PITX2

MiR-644a inhibits the stemness of Eca-109 cells by regulating PITX2 expression. A-D, enforced overexpression of miR-644a in Eca-109 cells substantially down-regulated the levels of stemness-associated genes (Nanog, Oct-4, Bmi-1, Notch-1 and Smo), multiple drug-resistance transporter genes (ABCC2, ABCG2) and surface antigens associated with cancer stem cells (CD24, CD44, CD133, CD105, and CD166) (A), reduced phere-forming ability (B) and proportion of side-population cells (C), and also largely increased chemosensitivity to cisplatin or radiosensitivity to IR (D). Restoration of PITX2 in miR-644a-overexpressing Eca-109 cells largely rescued the cells' stemness, while knockdown of PITX2 by shPITX2 decreased Eca-109 cells' stemness (A-D). E, tumor formation in nude mice shows reduced tumorigenicity in 3 groups of miR-644a-overexpressing Eca-109 cells indicated, as compared to that in matched control groups. *P