Figure 5 Correlations of TPX2 with EMT and MMPs in NSCLC cells. (A) The expression of epithelial marker proteins was consistent with TPX2 content, whereas the expression of mesenchymal marker proteins was opposite the expression of TPX2. (B) Luciferase reporter assay results suggested that TPX2 promoted the transcriptional activities of MMP2 and MMP9. (C) The enzyme activities of MMP2 and MMP9 were detected by using the activity detecting kit. Expression of both MMP2 and MMP9 activities was significantly higher in the TPX2 overexpression group of A549 cells, whereas in the knockdown group of H1650 cells, the MMP2 and MMP9 activities were significantly decreased when TPX2 was knocked down (mean±SD; n=3 in triplicate; ** P<0.01).