FIGURE 3.

Rapamycin activates PI3K-Akt signaling, which in turn inhibits CTGF expression in HPCs. (A) LE/6 and WB-F344 cells were treated with rapamycin at indicated concentrations for 6 h. Lysates were subjected to Western blot analysis with antibodies against indicated proteins. β-actin was used as a loading control; (B–D) LE/6 and WB-F344 cells were transfected with lentivirus carrying shRNA against mTOR, Raptor, Rictor, or scramble shRNA and Western blot analysis showed the expression of these proteins. β-actin was used as a loading control; (E) LE/6 and WB-F344 cells were treated with rapamycin and LY294002 for 6 h. Lysates were subjected to Western blot analysis with antibodies against indicated proteins. β-actin was used as a loading control; (F,G) LE-shmTOR#2, WB-shmTOR#2 and their scramble control (shScramble) were incubated with LY294002 or MK2206 at indicated concentrations for 6 h. Lysates were subjected to Western blot analysis with antibodies against indicated proteins. β-actin was used as a loading control.