Fig. 2

shRNA-mediated silencing of HDAC3 arrests proliferation, migration and invasion of ESCC cells but triggers apoptosis. A HDAC3 expression in EC9706 and Eca109 cells transfected with sh-HDAC3. B Proliferation of EC9706 and Eca109 cells transfected with sh-HDAC3, scale bar = 50 μm. C Apoptosis of EC9706 and Eca109 cells transfected with sh-HDAC3. D Migration of EC9706 and Eca109 cells transfected with sh-HDAC3 (scale bar: 50 μm). E Invasion of EC9706 and Eca109 cells transfected with sh-HDAC3 (scale bar: 50 μm). F Protein levels of cleaved caspase-3, total caspase-3, MMP-2 and MMP-9 normalized to GAPDH in EC9706 and Eca109 cells transfected with sh-HDAC3. * p < 0.05 vs. EC9706 and Eca109 cells transfected with sh-NC. Measurement data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation derived from at least 3 independent experiments. Data between two groups were compared by unpaired t test. Data comparison among multiple groups was conducted by one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s post hoc test