Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) Alleviates Hepatic Fibrosis via TGF-β Signaling

Figure 3

The expression of TRPV1 in TGF-β-treated HSCs and TRPV1 knockdown enhances TGF-β-induced ECM protein expression. (a, b) HSCs were exposed to 5 ng/ml TGF-β stimulation or (and) transfected with si-TRPV1; TRPV1 protein expression in HSCs was determined through Western blot analysis. Data are presented as (, , ). (c) The proliferation of si-TRPV1-transfected HSC in the presence or absence of TGF-β stimulation was determined using MTT assay. The obtained results are presented as (, ). (d) The proliferation of HSC was determined using BrdU assay. The obtained results are presented as (, , , compared with the si-NC (negative control) group; , compared with the si-NC+TGF-β group). (e, f) The protein levels of α-SMA and COL1A1 in si-TRPV1-transfected HSC in the presence or absence of TGF-β1 stimulation were determined using Western blots. Data are presented as (, , compared with the si-NC group; , compared with the si-NC+TGF-β group).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)