Gamma-aminobutyric acid promotes human hepatocellular carcinoma growth through overexpressed gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor α3 subunit

Figure 2 Effect of GABRA3-siRNA on the growth of HCC cells. A: MTT assay of HepG2 cells transfected with Si-1 vectors to GABRA3 and a negative control vector (Si-Mock). Y-axis: Average value of absorbance (ABS) at 570 nm, measured with a microplate reader (n = 6, P < 0.05); B and C: Soft agar colony formation assay of HepG2/Si-1 and HepG2/Si-Mock. Same cells were incubated in low-melting agarose as described in Materials and Methods. Two weeks later, colonies were photographed and numbers of colonies were counted. (n = 3, P < 0.05); D: Cell cycle of HepG2/Si-1 and HepG2/Si-Mock measured by flow cytometry; E: Tumor volume in nude mice with HepG2/Si-1 or HepG2/Si-Mock injected (mm³).