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

Figure 6 Kangfuxin solution inhibited the excessive fibrotic activity in primary esophageal fibroblast. A-C: The expression levels ofΑ-smooth muscle actin-2 (ACTA2), fibronectin (FN), and Collagen Ⅰ mRNA were determined by RT-PCR; D: Western blot detected the protein expression of ACTA2, FN, and collagen Ⅰ in primary esophageal fibroblasts (pEsF); E: Quantitation of relative expression of fibrosis protein in (D); Kangfuxin solution intervention dose-dependently suppressed the expression of ACTA2, FN, and collagen Ⅰ in pEsF; F: Representative images of immunofluorescence staining of ACTA2, FN, and collagen Ⅰ in the pEsF, magnification, 400 ×. Data are presented as mean ± SE. ^hP < 0.001 vs the negative control group, ⁱP < 0.001 vs the TGF-β1 group, ^jP < 0.01 vs the TGF-β1 group, ^kP < 0.05 vs the TGF-β1 group. NC: Negative control group; KFX: Kangfuxin solution; TGF-β1: Transforming growth factor β1; ACTA2: Α-smooth muscle actin-2; FN: Fibronectin; IHC: Immunohistochemistry; WB: Western blotting.