FIG. 1.

HAECs express the gp130Rβ/IL-6Rα receptor complex that is activated by IL-6. A: Representative blots of gp130Rβ and IL-6Rα in HAECs and positive control human hepatoma cells (HepG2). B: Representative blots and quantification of phosphorylation of STAT3 in HAECs treated with or without (PBS control) IL-6 (10 ng/ml) for 2 h, followed by treatment with or without (PBS control) insulin (100 nmol/l) for 15 min. *Difference (P < 0.05) IL-6 versus control; **difference (P < 0.05) IL-6 + insulin versus control (data are means ± SE; n = 3–5 replicates from three different experiments).