FIGURE 3

ADQ abrogates autophagy activity in breast CSCs. (A) Representative images of autophagic flux in breast CSC spheres, adherent breast cancer cells as well as differentiated breast CSCs. (B) The LC3 II and P62 expressions were analyzed by western blotting. All values represent the mean ± SD (n = 3, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs. Non-CSCs group). (C) Representative confocal images of autophagic flux in MDA-MB-231 CSC spheres transfected with the AVV-mRFP-GFP-LC3 reporter after the indicated treatment. All values represent the means ± SD (n = 3, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs. Control group; ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01 vs. Taxol group). (D) The fluorescence photographs of MDA-MB-231 CSC spheres were marked by DQ-BSA (green) or LysoRed (red) after the indicated treatment. All values represent the means ± SD (n = 3, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs. Control group; ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01 vs. Taxol group). (E) Representative bands of LC3 II and P62 in MDA-MB-231 CSCs with or without early autophagy inhibitor (3-mA, wortmannin) and late autophagy inhibitor (CQ, bafilomycin A1) after the indicated treatment.