Fig 2: KDM6A overexpression suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma cell tumorigenesis in vivo. (A) Representative images of the tumors generated by empty vector- and KDM6A overexpression vector-transfected Huh7 cells. Tumor (B) volume and (C) weight. (D) The effect of KDM6A overexpression on the protein expression levels of TGF-ß, p-smad2, Ki67 and PCNA in tumor samples. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 vs. vector. KDM6A, lysine demethylase 6A; TGF-ß, transforming growth factor-ß; p, phosphorylated; PCNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen; ns, not significant.

Fig 3: KDM6A negatively regulates the TGF-ß/SMAD signaling pathway. (A) The effect of KDM6A overexpression on the expression of TGF-ß, p-smad2, p-smad4, Ki67 and PCNA in Huh7 and LM3 cells was (A) determined by western blotting and (B) semi-quantified. The effect of KDM6A knockdown on the expression of TGF-ß, p-smad2, p-smad4, Ki67 and PCNA in YY-8103 and SNU-398 was (C) determined by western blotting and (D) semi-quantified. **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 vs. vector or SCR. KDM6A, lysine demethylase 6A; TGF-ß, transforming growth factor-ß; p, phosphorylated; PCNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen; SCR, scrambled; sh, short hairpin RNA; ns, not significant.

Fig 4: KDM6A overexpression inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation. (A) Transfection efficiency of KDM6A overexpression in Huh7 and LM3 cells. The effect of KDM6A overexpression on (B) Huh7 and (C) LM3 cell proliferation was measured by performing an MTT assay. (D) The effect of KDM6A overexpression on Huh7 and LM3 cell proliferation was detected by performing a crystal violet assay. Magnification, x4. (E) The OD value of the crystal violet assay in Huh7 and LM3 cells. **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 vs. vector. KDM6A, lysine demethylase 6A; OD, optical density.

Fig 5: KDM6A knockdown promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation. (A) Transfection efficiency of KDM6A knockdown in YY-8103 and SNU-398 cells. (B) The effect of KDM6A knockdown on (B) YY-8103 and (C) SNU-398 cell proliferation was measured by performing an MTT assay. (D) The effect of KDM6A knockdown on YY-8103 and SNU-398 cell proliferation was detected by performing a crystal violet assay. Magnification, x4. (E) The OD value of the crystal violet assay in YY-8103 and SNU-398 cells. ***P<0.001 vs. SCR. KDM6A, lysine demethylase 6A; OD, optical density; SCR, scrambled; sh, short hairpin RNA.