Fig 2: Interactive networks of ITGA3 expression in TCGA RNA sequencing databases. Interactive networks of ITGA3 expression in LUSC (A) and LUAD (B). The gene names and functions are summarized in Table 5. ITGA3, integrin α3; LUAD, lung adenocarcinoma; LUSC, lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Fig 3: miR-199a-5p and ITGA3 levels are dysregulated in CRC tissues and cells. (A) The expression of miR-199a-5p was significantly decreased in CRC tissues, and the level was decreased in T2, T3 and T4 tumors compared with normal tissues. No statistically significant difference was observed between T1 and normal tissues. (B) RT-qPCR revealed that ITGA3 expression was upregulated in CRC tissues. ITGA3 was significantly increased in T2, T3 and T4 tumors compared with normal tissues, No significant difference was observed between T1 and normal tissues. (C) Immunohistochemical staining results indicated upregulated ITGA3 protein levels in CRC tissues compared with normal tissues. (D) RT-qPCR demonstrated that miR-199a-5p was downregulated in cancer cell lines HCT-116 and Caco-2. (E) RT-qPCR revealed that ITGA3 was upregulated in cancer cell lines HCT-116 and Caco-2 compared with the normal colon epithelial cell line NCM460. (F) Western blotting demonstrated that ITGA3 was upregulated in cancer cell lines HCT-116 and Caco-2 compared with NCM460 cells. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001 and ****P<0.0001. CRC, colorectal cancer; RT-qPCR, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR; ITGA3, integrin α3β1; miR, microRNA; NC, negative control.

Fig 4: ITGA3 expression by histology subtypes. (A) The median ITGA3 expression was higher in LUAD than LUSC. Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival were stratified by ITGA3 expression (negative vs. positive) in LUSC (B) and LUAD (C), respectively. (D) Representative ITGA3 IHC stains on LUAC and LUSC (×10). ITGA3, integrin α3; LUAD, lung adenocarcinoma; LUSC, lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Fig 5: ITGA3 silencing inhibits the migration and invasion of ESCC cells. (A and B) The migration of ECA109 and TE1 cells was detected using wound-healing assay. Magnification ×100. (C and D) The invasion of ECA109 and TE1 cells was detected using Transwell assay. Magnification ×200. (E-G) The expression of MMP2 and MMP9 in ECA109 and TE1 cells was detected using western blotting. ***P<0.001 vs. siRNA-NC. ITGA3, integrin subunit α3; siRNA, small interfering RNA; NC, negative control.