Fig. 2

Effects of AG1478 or siRNA-mediated knockdown of EGFR (or ErBb4) on the BTC-induced increase in phosphorylated Cx43 in SVOG and hGL cells. (A) Lysates prepared with KLE, SVOG, or hGL cells were obtained, and the protein levels of EGFR and ErBb4 were measured via Western blot analysis. (B and C) SVOG (B) or hGL (C) cells were pretreated with DMSO (the vehicle control) or 10 µM sotrastaurin, and the cells were treated with 50 ng/ml BTC for an additional 15 min. The levels of phosphorylated Cx43 protein were measured via Western blot analysis. (D and E) Primary hGL cells were transfected with 25 nM siCtrl, 25 nM siEGFR (D), or 25 nM siErBb4 for 48 h, and the cells were then treated with 50 ng/ml BTC for an additional 15 min. The levels of phosphorylated Cx43 protein were measured via Western blot analysis. The results are expressed as the mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments. Values marked with different letters were significantly different (P < 0.05)