Fig. 5

MeCP2 confers 5-FU resistance via upregulating the NOX4/PKM2 pathway. 5-FU-resistant BGC-823 and SGC-7901 cells were co-transfection with MeCP2 overexpressing plasmid and NOX4 siRNA. A, B MTT assay for cell viability (*p < 0.01). C, D Cell colony assay 12 days after co-transfection. E, F Percentages of cells in the G1/G0, S, and G2/M phases after co-transfection. G, H Percentages of early-apoptotic and late-apoptotic cells after cotransfection. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (*p < 0.01, as compared with empty plasmid; **p < 0.01, as compared with empty plasmid + 5-FU; ^#p < 0.01, as compared with MeCP2 overexpressing plasmid + 5-FU; Student's t-test, n = 3). I–L mRNA levels of MeCP2 and NOX4 after cotransfection (*p < 0.01, as compared with empty plasmid; ^#p < 0.01, as compared with MeCP2 overexpressing plasmid + 5-FU). M, N Protein levels of MeCP2, NOX4 and PKM2 after cotransfection