Fig. 5

The roles of ERK and PI3K in leptin-, and OB3 peptide-, or their combination-induced expressions of ERα-responsive genes in ovarian cancer cells. SKOV-3 cells were pre-treated with LY294002 (10 μM) or PD98059 (10 μM) for 30 min and then were treated with either leptin (10 nM), OB3 (10 μM), or their combination for 8 h. Cells were harvested and total RNA was extracted. qPCR experiments were conducted to examine expressions of ERα-responsive genes: HIF-1α (a) , VEGF (b), and ERα (c). (Data are the mean ± SD, n = 6) (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 compared to the control group (non-treatment); ^# p < 0.05, ^## p < 0.01, ^### p < 0.001 compared to 10 nM leptin; ^$ p < 0.05, ^$$ p < 0.01, ^$$$ p < 0.001 compared to non-inhibitor treatment)