New role and molecular mechanism of Gadd45a in hepatic fibrosis

Figure 6 Gadd45a inhibits the transforming growth factor-β/Smad signaling pathways partly due to its antioxidant properties. A: Relative mRNA expression of type I collagen and α-SMA as determined by quantitative RT-PCR. Hepatic stellate cells were stimulated with CCl₄ in the presence or absence of glutathione for 24 h; B: Western blot analyses of type I collagen and α-SMA expression; C: Activation of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways was measured by Western blot analyses of p-Smad2, p-Smad3, Smd2, Smad3, and Smad4. GSH: Glutathione; SMA: Smooth muscle actin; TGF: Transforming growth factor.