Metformin Counteracts HCC Progression and Metastasis Enhancing KLF6/p21 Expression and Downregulating the IGF Axis

Figure 1

Metformin action on the proliferative phase of HepG2 cells: (a) experimental scheme of HepG2 treatments; (b) growth curve and viability determination: treatment with 400 μM METF significantly decreased the proliferative capacity of HepG2 without inducing cell death; (c) BrdU incorporation assay: METF did not suppress HepG2 cell proliferation at 24 and 48 h while at 72 h of treatment, METF significantly induced a proliferation decrease. Representative images related to BrdU assay were added as supplementary data (available here); (d) to confirm the results obtained by the growth curve, we analyzed p53 protein content: the protein content of p53 at day 3 of the growth curve decreased with respect to that of control in the presence of 400 μM METF; (e) METF significantly risen Rb activation. Conversely, the p21 protein level was increased in response to 72 h METF treatment. Data are expressed as fold change (FC) mean ± SD. Representative Western blots were added as supplementary data. Significance: t-test: vs MEM, vs MEM. For growth curve, viability, and BrdU assay, ANOVA test followed by Sidak’s multiple comparison test was used. ANOVA test: and .

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