Epitranscriptomic regulation of the COX-2/PGE2 axis by hnRNPA2B1 promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression

Figure 5 Targeting the hnRNPA2B1-cyclooxygenase-2/prostaglandin E2 axis suppresses esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell growth and motility in vitro. A: Relative prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production measured by ELISA in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells after hnRNPA2B1 knockdown or overexpression; B: Cell counting kit-8 assays showing the effects of PGE2 supplementation (1 μM) on hnRNPA2B1-silenced cells and celecoxib treatment (10 μM) on hnRNPA2B1-overexpressing cells, with 0.1% DMSO as the vehicle control; C: Representative images of colony formation assays under the indicated conditions; D: Quantification of colony numbers in (C); E: Representative images of Transwell migration and invasion assays under the indicated conditions; F: Quantification of migrated and invaded cells in (E); G: Representative images of wound-healing assays at 0, 12, and 24 hours under the indicated conditions; H: Quantification of wound closure in the PGE2 rescue experiments; I: Quantification of wound closure in the celecoxib inhibition experiments. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Statistical significance was determined by Student’s t-test for two-group comparisons or one-way ANOVA for multiple-group comparisons, as appropriate. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, and ^cP < 0.001. shCON: Control short hairpin RNA; NC: Negative control; OE: Overexpression; shA2B1: HnRNPA2B1 short hairpin RNA; PGE2: Prostaglandin E2; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide.