Kangfuxin solution alleviates esophageal stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection: A natural ingredient strategy

Figure 4 Kangfuxin solution suppressed upregulation of TGF-β1/Smads signaling in the artificial ulcer tissue of the esophagus. A-C: Relative expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), Smad2, and Smad3 mRNA was determined by RT-PCR (n = 4); D: Western blotting to detect the protein expression of TGF-β1, Smad2, p-Smad2, Smad3, and p-Smad3 in each group (n = 4); E-I: Quantitation of proteins relative expression in D (n = 4); compared to the control group, the expression of TGF-β1, Smad2, and Smad3 was suppressed in both the Kangfuxin solution and prednisolone groups; J: Representative images of immunohistochemical staining of p-Smad2 and p-Smad3, magnification, 200 × (n = 4); K and L: The quantitation of relative expression of p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 in J (n = 4). Data are presented as mean ± SE. ^aP < 0.001 vs the control group, ^bP < 0.01 vs the control group, ^cP < 0.05 vs the control group, ^dP < 0.001 vs the PDNN group, ^eP < 0.01 vs the PDNN group. KFX: Kangfuxin solution; PDNN: Prednisolone; TGF-β1: Transforming growth factor β1; WB: Western blotting.