24 well transwell chambers with 8.0 μm pore size polycarbonate membrane

Cell invasion assays were performed using 24-well transwell chambers with 8.0μm pore size polycarbonate membrane (Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY, USA). Cells were transfected with corresponding oligonucleotides or plasmids, and cultured at 37 °C for 24 h. Then, cells were digested and seeded with Matrigel (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA), and cultured with DMEM without fetal bovine serum in the upper chamber. In the lower 24-well plate, DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum was added. After appropriate time (24 h for SMMC-7721 cells and 12 h for HCCLM3 cells), cells inside the upper chamber were removed with cottons swabs. Cells invaded through the membrane surface were fixed with methanol, stained with 5% crystal violet and counted.

Cell invasion assays were performed using 24-well transwell chambers with 8.0 μm pore size polycarbonate membrane (Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY, USA). Cells were seeded on the top side of the membrane precoated with Matrigel (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA). After incubation, cells inside the upper chamber were removed with cottons swabs. Invaded cells on the lower membrane surface were fixed and then stained with 5% crystal violet.