Fig. 2

CCNB1 knockdown promotes apoptosis and suppresses proliferation in HCC cell line HepG2 and SMMC-7721. a Real-time PCR analysis of CCNB1 mRNA levels and b western blot analysis of CCNB1 protein levels in HCC cell line Hep-G2 and SMMC-7721 with no transfection (control), transfected with control siRNA (Scramble-siRNA) or CCNB1 siRNA (CCNB1-siRNA). Bargraphs in a represent normalized data from three independent experiments. **p < 0.01 vs. control. b Actin expression levels were detected as an endogenous control. Experiments were repeated twice and representative data was shown. c, d HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells were transfected with either Scramble siRNA or CCNB1 siRNA at 50 nM. 48 h after transfection, cells were subjected to apoptosis detection using flow cytometry by Annexin-V/Propidium Iodide (PI) staining. c Representative dot plots show the percentages of Annexin V +/PI- apoptotic cells. d Bar graphs represent the mean ± SD from 3 independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs. Control or Scramble siRNA. e HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells were transfected with either Scramble siRNA or CCNB1 siRNA at 50 nM. Cell proliferation at different time points was measured by MTT assay. Bar graphs represent the mean ± SD from triplicate wells and experiments were repeated three times. **p < 0.01 vs. Cell only group