Fig. 2.

Neurofibromin regulates astrocyte proliferation in a PI3K/Akt-dependent manner in vitro. (A) Ectopic expression of a constitutively active Akt (myrAkt) molecule results in increased astrocyte proliferation (right). Western blot demonstrates increased Akt activation (Thr³⁰⁸ and Ser⁴⁷³ phosphorylation) and mTOR activation (pS6^Ser240/244 phosphorylation) following myrAkt expression. (B) Treatment with the MK2206 Akt inhibitor (50 nM) or (C) the BKM120 PI3K inhibitor (5 nM) reduces the increased Akt activation, S6 activation, and proliferation observed in Nf1−/− astrocytes to wild-type (WT) levels. *P < .01, **P < .05. Bar graph denotes mean ± SEM. The data are representative of 3 independent replicate experiments.