Fig. 2.

Transcriptional analysis of IFNγ-induced effects on the ppET-1 promoter. A: HSCs were transduced with a ppET-1 promoter (ppET-1pro) luciferase reporter plasmid and then exposed to IFNγ (500 IU/ml) or ET-1 (20 nM) for 48 h. Cell lysates were assayed for luciferase activity (n = 3; *P < 0.05 vs. control and #P < 0.05 vs. control with ET-1). B: a series of the truncated ppET-1 promoter luciferase reporter plasmids were generated (left) and stellate cells were transfected and exposed to IFNγ as in A (n = 3; *P < 0.05 vs. control). C: a ppET-1 promoter luciferase reporter plasmid harboring a mutant (mu) AP-1 binding site or Smad3 binding site or both was prepared (top) and stellate cells were transfected and exposed to IFNγ as in A (n = 3; *P < 0.05 for IFNγ vs. control and #P < 0.05 for wild-type ppET-1 luciferase reporter plasmid vs. site mutants).