Icariin inhibits tumor-associated neutrophil recruitment via the CXCL8-CXCR2 axis and restrains pro-metastatic programs in colorectal cancer

Figure 6 Icariin represses epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer cells as well as recruitment of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2+ tumor-associated neutrophils, and promotes immune activation by up-regulating SMAD4 expression. A: The relative expression of protein E-cadherin, α-catenin, and vimentin; B: The proportion of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2+ tumor-associated neutrophils in the lower chamber. Results are illustrated as mean ± SD. ^aP < 0.05 vs the small interfering SMAD4-negative control group, ^bP < 0.05 vs the small interfering SMAD4 group, ^cP < 0.05 vs the icariin + small interfering-negative control group. ICA: Icariin; siSMAD4: Small interfering SMAD4; NC: Negative control; GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; CXCR2: C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2.