Fig. 2

RPL21 promotes CRC cell migration, invasion and liver metastasis. A The relative expression of RPL21 mRNA in ten CRC cell lines and FHC was detected by qRT–PCR. Mean ± SD, n = 3, ***p < 0.001, *p < 0.05, Student’s t-test. B The establishment of RPL21 stable overexpression (HCT15, Caco2, and HCT116) and knockdown (HCT-8, RKO, and DLD1) cell lines. RPL21 protein expression was detected by western blotting. C The migration ability of CRC cells was detected by the transwell migration assay (scale, 100 μm). Mean ± SD, n = 5, ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01, Student’s t-test. D The invasion ability of CRC cells was detected by Matrigel-coated Boyden chamber invasion assay (scale, 100 μm). Mean ± SD, n = 5, ***p < 0.001, Student’s t-test. E In vivo bioluminescence imaging photo and representative morphology images with H&E staining images of tumor formation in mouse cecum and liver metastasis (scale, 100 μm), using the orthotopic CRC mouse model injected with HCT116 Ctrl or HCT116 RPL21 cells. The red arrowheads indicate the tumors in situ or the liver metastatic nodules. The number of liver metastatic nodules in each mouse was counted under the microscope. Mean ± SD, n = 5, *p < 0.05, Student’s t-test