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

Figure 2 Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 overexpression stimulates Smad2/3 phosphorylation in hepatic stellate cell-T6 cells. A: Total and phosphorylated Smad2/3 protein expression in hepatic stellate cell-T6 (HSC-T6) cells was examined by Western blot 48 and 72 h after cDNA (cAd) or adenovirus vector carrying insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 (IGFBPrP1) (AdIGFBPrP1) transfection (multiplicity of infection = 100); B: P-Smad2/3 content normalized with total Smad3 content in cAd or AdIGFBPrP1-treated HSC-T6 cells. Data are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 4 per group). ^aP < 0.05 vs the levels in the control group.