Effect of transforming growth factor-β1 on human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cell growth

Figure 5 Effects of TGF-β1 on DNA synthesis during inhibition of IL-6 functions. A: All of the ICC cells demonstrated enhanced DNA synthesis in response to IL-6: ^aP < 0.05 vs absence of IL-6. We next investigated whether TGF-β1 promoted ICC cell growth during the inhibition of IL-6 functions by small interfering RNA (siRNA); B: RT-PCR was conducted to assess the effects of siRNA in suppressing the mRNA expressions of IL-6Rα and STAT3. IL-6Rα and STAT3 mRNA expression was suppressed by 10.6% and 41.9%, relative to control siRNA; C: The silencing of IL-6Rα and STAT3 mRNA expressions by siRNA in HuCCT1 cells led to a suppression in the TGF-β1-induced DNA synthesis relative to that observed under the control siRNA condition: ^aP < 0.05 vs absence of rhTGF-β1.