Aquaporin 3 maintains the stemness of CD133+ hepatocellular carcinoma cells by activating STAT3

a The expression levels of AQP3 mRNA in 37 cases HCC tumor tissues and the corresponding normal tissues according to qRT-PCR. b The average mRNA expression levels (2？Δct) of AQP3 in 37 HCC tumor tissues and the corresponding normal tissues according to qRT-PCR. c The expression levels of AQP3 protein in 10 cases HCC tumor tissues and the corresponding normal tissues according to western blotting. d According to IHC in 120 HCC paraffin section specimens, AQP3 protein appeared to be expressed in the cytomembrane of tumor cells. e AQP3 was high expressed in 7 HCC cell lines (HUH7, HCCLM3, SMMC7721, HepG2, bel7402, PLC/PRF/5, Hep3B) than the normal liver cell lines (L02). f According to IHC in 120 HCC paraffin section specimens, the overall survival in patients with high AQP3 expression was significantly lower than in patients with low AQP3 expression (P？<？0.01, KM survival curve