Figure 2. Effects of eIF5A on matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and the proliferation of HCEpiCs were assessed in this study. Cultured HCEpiCs were treated with EGF, EGF+eIF5A siRNA, eIF5A siRNA, EGF+negative siRNA, and medium alone (control) for the indicated times. Data were expressed by mean±SD of three independent experiments. A-B: Relative expressions of MMP9 mRNA and protein level at 24 h after administration of different treatments were detected by real-time PCR and western blot, respectively. The graph shows the relative eIF5A protein levels normalized to β-actin; data are expressed as mean±standard deviation (SD) of three independent experiments. (**) were highly significant when compared with control group, in both cases p-value <0.01, asterisks indicate p-value <0.05 with the Student t test. C-D: Relative expressions of PCNA mRNA and protein level at 36 h after administration of different treatments were detected by real-time PCR and western blot, respectively. The graph shows the relative eIF5A protein levels normalized to β-actin. (**) were highly significant when compared with control group, in both cases p-value <0.01, asterisks indicate p-value <0.05 with the Student t test. E: HCEpiC proliferation at 48 h after administration of different treatments was detected by ³H-TdR. Data were expressed as mean±SD of three independent experiments. **p<0.01 versus control group, asterisks indicate p<0.05 in t test.