Fig 2: Knockdown of miR-942-5p modulates the functional behaviors and gefitinib sensitivity of A549/GR and PC9/GR cells by up-regulating TGFBR2. A549/GR and PC9/GR cells were transfected with anti-miR-NC, anti-miR-942-5p, anti-miR-942-5p + si-NC, or anti-miR-942-5p + si-TGFBR2 and checked for TGFBR2 mRNA expression by qRT-PCR analysis (A), TGFBR2 protein level by western blot (B), IC50 value for gefitinib by MTT assay (C), cell proliferation by EdU assay (D), cell colony formation by colony formation assay (E), cell proliferation by MTT assay (F, G), cell apoptosis by flow cytometry (H), cell migration and invasion by transwell assay (I, J), Twist1 and E-cadherin levels by western blot (K, L). *P < 0.05

Fig 3: Circ_MACF1 overexpression affects the functional behaviors and gefitinib sensitivity of A549/GR and PC9/GR cells by down-regulating miR-942-5p. A549/GR and PC9/GR cells were transfected with negative control Vector plasmid, circ_MACF1 overexpression plasmid, circ_MACF1 overexpression plasmid + miR-NC mimic, or circ_MACF1 overexpression plasmid + miR-942-5p mimic. A Relative miR-942-5p expression by qRT-PCR analysis in transfected A549/GR and PC9/GR cells. B MTT assay for the IC50 value for gefitinib in transfected A549/GR and PC9/GR cells. C Cell proliferation by EdU assay. D Cell colony formation by colony formation assay. E, F MTT assay for cell proliferation. G Apoptosis of transfected A549/GR and PC9/GR cells by flow cytometry. H, I Transwell assay for cell migration and invasion abilities in transfected A549/GR and PC9/GR cells. J, K Western blot showing the expression levels of Twist1 and E-cadherin in transfected A549/GR and PC9/GR cells. *P < 0.05

Fig 4: RIOK1 depletion suppressed cell migration and invasion in NSCLC cells. (A-D) Knockdown of RIOK1 inhibited H1299 and A549 cell migration (A-B) and invasion (C-D). All data are presented as the mean ± s.e.m. from three independent experiments. ***p<0.001. (E) Western blot showing the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin and MMP2 in A549 and H1299 cells. Tubulin served as a protein loading control. (F) Western blot showing the expression of p-STAT3, STAT3, and Twist in A549 and H1299 cells. Tubulin served as a protein loading control.

Fig 5: Circ_MACF1 overexpression affects the functional behaviors and gefitinib sensitivity of A549/GR and PC9/GR cells by inducing TGFBR2 expression. A549/GR and PC9/GR cells were transfected with negative control Vector plasmid, circ_MACF1 overexpression plasmid, circ_MACF1 overexpression plasmid + si-NC, or circ_MACF1 overexpression plasmid + si-TGFBR2, followed by the assessment of TGFBR2 protein level by western blot (A), IC50 value for gefitinib by MTT assay (B), cell proliferation by EdU assay (C), cell colony formation by colony formation assay (D), cell proliferation by MTT assay (E, F), cell apoptosis by flow cytometry (G), cell migration and invasion by transwell assay (H, I), Twist1 and E-cadherin levels by western blot (J, K). *P < 0.05