Fig. 7

The roles of STAT3 and ERα in leptin peptide-, OB3 peptide-, or their combination-induced expressions of ERα-responsive genes in ovarian cancer cells. SKOV-3 cells were pre-treated with S31–201 (10 μM) or ICI 182,780 (10 μM) for 30 min and then were treated with either leptin (10 nM), OB3 (10 μM), or their combination for 24 h. Cells were harvested, and total RNA was extracted. qPCR experiments were conducted to examine expressions of ERα-responsive genes: HIF-1α (a) , VEGF (b), and ERα (c). (Data are the mean ± SD, n = 6) (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 compared to the control group (non-treatment); ^# p < 0.05, ^## p < 0.01, ^### p < 0.001 compared to 10 nM leptin; ^$ p < 0.05, ^$$ p < 0.01, ^$$$ p < 0.001 compared to non-inhibitor treatment)