To further confirm the potential mechanism of the effects of GSN on YTS cells, western blot analysis was performed to detect the components of the PI3K/Akt pathway. As shown in Fig. 3, Akt expression in the three experimental groups was not significantly different. Moreover, phosphorylation of Akt is characteristic of PI3K activation. The levels of PI3K and p-Akt in YTS-GSN cells were both significantly decreased, compared with levels in YTS-Con cells. The results revealed that upregulation of GSN can inhibit the PI3K/Akt pathway. Fig. 3.GSN overexpression inhibits the PI3K/Akt pathway in YTS cells. (A,B) Western blot analysis revealed that AKT expression in the three experimental groups was not significantly different. The levels of PI3K and p-AKT in YTS-GSN cells were significantly reduced at 48 h, compared with those in YTS-Con cells. **P<0.01.