Figure 4

Blockade HIF-1α and autophagy reduced convertion of non-stem cells into stem-like cells. (A) Western blot analyses for CD44 and Oct-4 protein levels during intermittent hypoxia (IH) or normoxia (N) with or without HIF-1α siRNA and 3-MA. Data were normalized to β-actin levels. (B) The percentage of CD133⁺ subpopulation was reduced under intermittent hypoxia condition with HIF-1α siRNA and 3-MA by flow cytometry. (a) Non-stem pancreatic cancer cells cultured under normoxia without HIF-1α siRNA and 3-MA; (b) Non-stem pancreatic cancer cells cultured under intermittent hypoxia condition without HIF-1α siRNA and 3-MA; (c) Non-stem pancreatic cancer cells cultured under intermittent hypoxia condition with HIF-1α siRNA and 3-MA (IH + Inhibitor); (d) IgG-PE antibody was used as a control. The experiment was repeated 3 times and the data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The difference between these three groups was significant, **P < 0.01.