Fig 2: Effect of COL23A1 silencing on cell migration and adhesion in ccRCC cells. (A, B) Effect of COL23A1 silencing on the cell adhesion of (A) 786-O and (B)A-498 cells. Error bars are ± SD (n = 3). (C, D) Effect of COL23A1 silencing on the expression of proteins involved in cell adhesion of (C) 786-O and (D) A-498. (E) Representative images of migration assays performed using 786-O (upper left) and A-498 (lower left) cells (scale bars, 100 µm). The histograms right were quantification of the migration assays of 786-O (upper) and A-498 (lower) cells. Error bars are ± SD (n = 3).

Fig 3: The correlation between COL23A1 expression and prognosis in ccRCC. (A,B) Representative high COL23A1 level in ccRCC tissues with (A) ×200 magnification and (B) ×400 magnification. (C,D) Representative low COL23A1 level in ccRCC tissues with (C) ×200 magnification and (D) ×400 magnification. (E,F) Representative COL23A1 level in normal kidney tissues with (E) ×200 magnification and (F) ×400 magnification. (G) Kaplan-Meier curves for OS after radical nephrectomy.

Fig 4: COL23A1 expression in ccRCC tissues and paired ANTs. (A) Results of qRT-PCR exhibited the relative mRNA levels of COL23A1 in primary non-metastatic ccRCC tissues compared with paired ANTs from FUSCC cohort. Error bars are ± SD (n = 3). (B) The expression of COL23A1 mRNA in primary non-metastatic ccRCC tissues compared with paired ANTs from TCGA cohort. (C) Results of western blot analysis showed the COL23A1 protein levels in primary non-metastatic ccRCC tissues compared with paired ANTs from FUSCC cohort.

Fig 5: COL23A1 was down-regulated by small interfering RNA (siRNA) in ccRCC cell lines. (A,B) Relative COL23A1 mRNA levels in (A) 786-O and (B) A-498 cells that were transfected with siRNAs (#1, #2, #3) compared with siNC respectively were analyzed using qRT-qPCR. Error bars are ± SD (n = 3). (C) Results of western blot analysis showed the COL23A1 protein level of 786-O cells that were transfected with siRNAs (#1, #2, #3) compared with siNC, and the histogram right was quantification of the western blot analysis results. Error bars are ± SD (n = 3). (D) Results of western blot analysis showed the COL23A1 protein level of A-498 cells that were transfected with siRNAs (#1, #2, #3) compared with siNC, and the histogram right was quantification of the western blot analysis results. Error bars are ± SD (n = 3).