Fig. 4

The PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 disrupted the function of oeUSP18 in human HcerEpic cells. a The proliferation of oeUSP18 transfected cells was suppressed in the presence of the PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002. * p < 0.05 vs oeNC + DMSO, ** p < 0.01 vs oeNC + DMSO, *** p < 0.001 vs oeNC + DMSO; ### p < 0.001 vs oeUSP18 + DMSO. N = 3 for each time point b The PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 promoted the apoptosis of oeUSP14 transfected cells. * p < 0.05 vs oeNC + DMSO, *** p < 0.001 vs oeNC + DMSO; ### p < 0.001 vs oeUSP18 + DMSO. N = 3 for each group. c Western blot was used to examine the protein contents of USP18, Ki-67, Cyclin D1, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, Bax, p-AKT, AKT and β-catenin in oeNC or oeUSP18 transfected cells with or without the treatment of the PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002. *** p < 0.001 vs oeNC + DMSO; ### p < 0.001 vs oeUSP18 + DMSO. N = 3 for each group. The full-length gels are presented in Supplementary Figure 4C