Fig. 5

HOXB7 knockdown inhibits cell proliferation and triggers apoptosis in HNSCC cells in vitro. A, B: Endogenous HOXB7 protein and mRNA expression were measured in a panel of HNSCC cell lines as compared to normal human oral keratinocytes (HOK); C, D: Endogenous HOXB7 protein and mRNA were efficiently silenced by two siRNAs (siHOXB7-1, siHOXB7-2) in Fadu and Cal27 cells. Non-targeting siRNA was utilized as negative control (siNC); E–J: Cell proliferation was remarkably suppressed when endogenous HOXB7 was silenced as measured by CCK8 (E, F) and BrdU assays (G–J); I–M: Increased percentages of cell undergoing apoptosis were evident following HOXB7 knockdown as assayed by Annexin V-PI staining. Scale bar: 100 μm. Data shown from three independent experiments, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ANOVA analyses