Fig. 1

Knockout of KLF8 promoted cell apoptosis via up-regulating the expression of apoptotic-related genes. a Hierarchical clustering analysis of genes that were significantly up- or down-regulated genes between KLF8^KO-LM3 cells and control. A cut off of log2 fold Change ≤ -1.5 and ≥ 1.5 was set (P < 0.05). Expression values were represented in colors of red and blue, which indicated high and low relative expression value across all samples (log scale 2, from 1.5 to − 1.5), respectively. b, c GO analysis associating genes up-regulated (b) or down-regulated (c) with GO categories. Significant GO terms influenced by knockout of KLF8 in LM3 cells. The vertical axis represents the GO category, and the horizontal axis is the log of the P value. d, e KEGG analysis associating genes up-regulated (d) or down-regulated (e) in LM3 control or KLF8^KO-LM3 cells. The vertical axis is the pathway category, and the horizontal axis represents the log of the P value. f Representative flow cytometry analysis after Annexin-V/PI staining in LM3 control or KLF8^KO-LM3 cells after exposure to 10 μM camptothecin. g Apoptosis rate of LM3 control or KLF8^KO-LM3 cells in (f). Experiments were performed in triplicate and all data are shown as Mean ± SD. * P < 0.05 and *** P < 0.001