IGFBPrP1 induces liver fibrosis by inducing hepatic stellate cell activation and hepatocyte apoptosis via Smad2/3 signaling

Figure 1 Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 overexpression induces extracellular matrix production in hepatic stellate cell-T6 cells. Hepatic stellate cell-T6 cells were infected with cDNA (cAd) or adenovirus vector carrying insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 (IGFBPrP1) (AdIGFBPrP1) for 24, 48 and 72 h at a multiplicity of infection of 100. Cell lysates were prepared from each culture. A: IGFBPrP1 and collagen I protein expression was detected by Western blot; B: IGFBPrP1 mRNA level was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Data are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 4 per group). ^aP < 0.05 vs the levels in the control group.