Figure 5.

Effects of sorafenib and ATRA on the protein expression of Cxs. (A) Expression of different Cx isoforms in HepG₂ and SMMC-7721 cells, as shown by western blotting for Cx26, Cx32 and Cx43 proteins, respectively. (B and C) Sorafenib (5 μM), ATRA (10 μM), or in combination increased the expression of Cx43, but not Cx32, after treatment for 48 h in HepG₂ cells. (D and E) Sorafenib (5 μM), ATRA (0.1 μM), or in combination increased the expression of Cx32, but not Cx43, after treatment for 48 h in SMMC-7721 cells. Bar graphs were plotted according to the densitometry of the Cx/actin band densities, normalized to vehicle controls treated with DMSO. Data represent the mean ± SEM of three independent experiments. ^*p<0.05 vs. vehicle control; ^#p<0.05 vs. single-agent treatment.