Fig. 5

NCAPG enhances the proliferation of HCC cells and affects the PI3K-AKT pathway by affecting the expression of PTEN. A Western blot analysis showing the levels of PTEN, AKT, p-PTEN and p-AKT when NCAPG was overexpressed. Quantitative analysis showed the same pattern. B Western blot analysis showing the levels of PTEN, AKT, p-PTEN and p-AKT when NCAPG was knocked down. Quantitative analysis showed the same pattern. C When MK2206 was added to NCAPG-overexpressing cells, the levels of AKT and p-AKT were reversed. D and E The cell proliferation ability of HCCLM3 and MHCC97H cells, as evaluated by EdU incorporation and CCK-8 assays, was attenuated when NCAPG was upregulated with MK2206. The values indicate the means ± SDs of three independent experiments (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001; independent Student’s t test)