Fig. 2

METTL3 promotes LUAD proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis. A The knockdown efficiency of METTL3 after 48 h transfection of METTL3 siRNA (si#1, si#2) and negative control siRNA (siNC) in H1975 and PC9 cells were confirmed by western blot. B and C CCK-8 assays showed the growth curves of LUAD cells upon METTL3 knockdown in H1975 and PC9 cells, and METTL3 overexpression in H322 cells respectively. D and E Representative images of EdU staining and the ratio of EdU positive cells to total Hoechest 33,342 positive cells (Scale bar: 100 μm). F and G Flow cytometry analysis for cell cycle of cellular distribution by PI staining with METTL3 knockdown in H1975 and PC9 cells, and METTL3 overexpression in H322 cells. H and I Flow cytometry analysis for apoptotic cell proportion (Q2 + Q3) by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. J Photograph of dissected subcutaneous tumors at sacrificed time. K The tumor growth curves of subcutaneous xenograft models with stable METTL3 knockdown (shMETTL3) and negative control (shNC) PC9 cells injection (n = 6). L Tumor weight of dissected subcutaneous tumors at sacrificed time. M Representative IHC images and IHC scores of METTL3 and Ki67 stained in xenograft tumors (Scale bar: 50 μm). N Representative TUNEL images and apoptotic cell proportion of xenograft tumors (Scale bar: 50 μm). **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001