Neutrophilic Lung Inflammation Suppressed by Picroside II Is Associated with TGF-β Signaling

Figure 3

PIC II induces the phosphorylation of Smad 2 and enhances SBE-mediated transcriptional activity. (a) RAW 264.7 cells were treated with increasing amounts of PIC II. The phosphorylated form of Smad 2 (p-Smad 2) was measured by Western blot. The membrane was stripped and reprobed with Smad 2 for ensuring an equal loading of proteins. (b) RAW 264.7 cells were transfected with SBE luciferase reporter construct along with a plasmid encoding a constitutively active (c.a.) TGF-βR. Transfected cells were treated with indicated amounts of PIC II. Results are representatives of at least three independent experiments. Data were shown as the mean ± SEM of triple sets. was less than 0.05, compared with reporter only, and was less than 0.05, compared with the group transfected with the reporter and the c.a. TGF-βR.

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