Fig 2: RNF43 OE attenuates stem-like properties of GCSLCs. a Representative images (upper) of RNF43 OE cells that generated smaller and fewer tumorspheres compared with control groups. Tumorsphere count (right) in different treatment groups, which were consistent with the trend described. Data represent mean ± SD of five independent experiments. *P < 0.05. Scale Bar, 50 µm. b In-vivo assay of the effect of RNF43 on GC stem-like cell tumorigenesis. Upper: xenograft tumor driven by RNF43 OE and control GC cells. Lower left: during 30 days after tumor cell injection, RNF43 OE cells generate smaller tumors at a lower speed compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Lower right: representative flow cytometric analysis of candidate CSC markers CD44 and CD54 for GC stem-like cells from xenograft tumor formed by RNF43 overexpressing and control cells. c Representative flow cytometric analysis of CD44 and CD54 for GC stem-like cells formed by control and RNF43-overexpressing cells in HGC-27 and NCI-87 cells. OE overexpression. **means Statistically significant (P < 0.01)

Fig 3: Evaluation of (A) CD86 and (B) CD54 expression, and cell viability in the h-CLAT assay. The cells were treated with the silica NP, and positive control (DNCB, CAS number 97-00-7). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 6). Positive control was tested in parallel (4 µg/mL). DNCB = 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene.