Figure 5.

GPR39 was elevated in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and regulated the cell growth in HCC. (A, B) The GPR39 mRNA and protein level was up‐regulated in HCC tissues. (C) MHCC‐97L transfected with GPR39 siRNA and Hep3B cells transfected with LV‐GPR39 were examined in WB for GPR39 expression. GPR39‐overexpressing cells increased cell proliferation (D), colony formation (E) and cell cycle progression (F) and reduced apoptosis (G) in Hep3B cells, and depletion of GPR39 impeded proliferation (D), colony formation (E) and cell cycle progression (F) and enhanced apoptosis (G) in MHCC‐97L cells. (H) After up‐regulation or down‐regulation of GPR39, the expression of cell cycle–related proteins cyclin D1 and p21, and apoptosis regulator Bax and Bcl‐2 was determined by WB. n = six independent experiments. *P < .05