Figure 5
Expression levels determination of PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK. (A) Western blot assay revealed the expression level of p-ERK was lower in HepG2 and Bel-7402 cells transfected with integrin α6 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) plasmids, while the expression of ERK remained unchanged. Cells transfected with control shRNA plasmids show no difference on p-ERK and ERK expression. (B) Western blot assay revealed the expression of p-AKT was lower in HepG2 and Bel-7402 cells transfected with integrin α6 shRNA plasmids, while the expression level of AKT remained unchanged. Cells transfected with control shRNA plasmids show no difference in p-AKT and AKT expression. (C) Western blot assay showed that PI3K inhibitor LY294002 reduced the expression of both p-AKT and p-ERK. (D) MTT assay showed that the proliferation of HepG2 cells cultured with LY294002 was dramatically reduced (P < 0.05). (E) Transwell assay showed that the invasion potential of HepG2 cells cultured with LY294002 was dramatically reduced (P < 0.05). *P < 0.05 compared with control.