Fig. 5: SNAI2 promotes the proliferation of GSCs by inhibiting PHLPP2 to activate the Akt pathway.

A The p-Akt and PHLPP2 level in the presence of oe-NC, oe-SNAI2, oe-PHLPP2, and oe-SNAI2 + oe-PHLPP2 as determined by Western blot assay. B Statistics of EdU-positive cells in GSCs in the presence of oe-NC, oe-SNAI2, oe-PHLPP2, and oe-SNAI2 + oe-PHLPP2 as determined by EdU assay. C Statistics of cell sphere formation efficiency of GSCs in the presence of oe-NC, oe-SNAI2, oe-PHLPP2, and oe-SNAI2 + oe-PHLPP2 as examined by spheroid formation assay. D Representative images of EdU-positive cells in GSCs. E Representative images of sphere formation in GSCs. F The apoptotic rate of GSCs in the presence of oe-NC, oe-SNAI2, oe-PHLPP2, and oe-SNAI2 + oe-PHLPP2 as examined by flow cytometry. G The expression of CD133 and Nestin on the surface of GSCs in the presence of oe-NC, oe-SNAI2, oe-PHLPP2, and oe-SNAI2 + oe-PHLPP2 as examined by immunofluorescence. *p < 0.05 vs. GSCs treated with oe-NC, si-NC, oe-SNAI2, or oe-PHLPP2. Each cell experiment was repeated three times independently.