NgBR overexpression rescues cell growth inhibition through rescuing the changes in the phos-Akt protein level induced by siNgBR in HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells.(A,C) Overexpression of NgBR rescued the changes in the phos-Akt protein level induced by siNgBR in HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells. The HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells were cotransfected with siNgBR or NS as well as pIRES-NgBR or the pIRES empty vector (EV). Expressions of phos-Akt and total-Akt proteins were then examined using Western blot analysis. (B,D) Overexpression of NgBR rescued the cell growth inhibition induced by siNgBR in HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells. Cell proliferation was quantified by the CCK-8 assay. The data are means ± SD of 3 independent assays (*P < .05). CCK-8, cell counting kit-8; EV, pIRES empty vector; NgBR, Nogo-B receptor; NS, nonsilencing siRNA; siNgBR, NgBR siRNA; siRNA, small (or short) interfering RNA