Fig. 4.

GNAS promotes LPS-induced HCC cell growth and invasion. a Protein expression levels of GNAS in wild type HepG2 cells or GNAS knockout-HepG2 cells were detected by Western blotting. b HepG2 cells or GNAS knockout-HepG2 cells were treated with LPS (5 μg/ml) or not for the indicated hours. Then, the protein expression levels of STAT3, p-STAT3, and GNAS were detected by Western blotting. c, d and e HepG2 cells or GNAS knockout-HepG2 cells were treated with LPS (5 μg/ml) or not for 12 h. Then, the mRNA expression levels of the indicated genes were detected by qRT-PCR (c). Cell invasive ability was examined by transwell invasion assays (d). Cell proliferation was examined by MTT assays (e). Data are represented as means ± SD (n = 3; ^*represents P < 0.05)