Fig. 5

Worenine inhibits HIF-1α and further blocks HK-2 and PKM2 expression. HCT116 cells were treated with worenine (Wor; 20 μM), desferrioxamine (Dfx; 30 μM), siRNA of HIF-1α (siHIF-1α), and worenine combined with desferrioxamine (Wor + Dfx) for 24 h. DMSO-treated cells were used as a control. a The protein expression of HIF-1α was assayed via western blotting. b The mRNA expressions of PKM-2 and HK2 were determined using real-time PCR. c GLUT3, HK2, PKM2 and LDHA protein expressions were determined using western blotting. d The concentrations of HK-2 and PKM2 were determined using ELISA. The data are the means ± SEM. ^##p < 0.01 vs. control group. *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 vs. worenine group