Figure 7

ErbB2-enhances IGF1 signalling and proliferation in the HMLEC system. A. Cells were starved of serum for 48 hrs and then stimulated with 25 ng/mL IGF1 for the indicated times. Activation of ERK1/2 and Akt was assessed by immunoblotting with phospho-specific antibodies and protein levels checked by re-probing membranes with non-phospho-specific and beta-actin antibodies. Blotting data was quantified by densitometry. Intensities for each band were normalized to the actin band in that lane and the ratios pAkt/Akt and pERK2/ERK2 calculated. Normalized ratios were then averaged from 3 independent blots and plotted using standard deviation as the error. B. Levels of ErbB2, IGFBP3 and IGF1R in HB4a and C3.6 cells were assessed by immunoblotting. C. MTT proliferation assays were carried out on HMLECs in media supplemented with 10% FBS, 0.1% FBS and 0.1% FBS plus 25 ng/mL IGF1 over a period of 48 hrs.