Fig. 3

Loss of TTC17 function promotes the metastatic properties of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. a–d Representative images and quantitative analysis of wound healing assays (a, TTC17 knockout; b, TTC17 knockdown) and Transwell invasion assays (c, TTC17 knockout; d, TTC17 knockdown) using MDA-MB-231 cells with TTC17-deficient and control cells. Scale bars, a, b 500 μm; c-d 200 μm. e, f Representative images and quantitative analysis of wound healing assays (e) and Transwell invasion assays (f) using MCF7 cells with TTC17 overexpression and control cells. Scale bars, e 500 μm; f 200 μm. g Schematic for evaluating the effect of TTC17 loss on the formation of pulmonary metastasis in the orthotopic mammary carcinoma model. h Representative histological images (H&E staining) and quantitative analysis of metastatic nodules in the lungs of BALB/c mice that received 4T1 cells with or without TTC17 depletion. Arrowheads indicate lung metastasis nodules (n = 6 for each group). Scale bar, 5 mm. i Schematic for assessing the effect of TTC17 silencing on the initiation of lung colonization through the tail vein injection model. j–l Representative gross images and quantitative analysis of metastatic nodules in the lungs (j), lung weight (k), and bodyweight (l) of NOD/SCID mice injected with TTC17-silenced MDA-MB-231 cells and their counterparts (n = 5 for each group). Scale bar, 5 mm. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001. H&E, hematoxylin and eosin