Withagulatin A inhibits the Akt pathway. (A, B) Primary rat HSCs were incubated with Withagulatin A (0, 1, and 2 μmol/L) for 24 h (C, D) or treated with 2 μmol/L Withagulatin A for 0 to 24 h. Cells were harvested and analyzed by Western blotting for phosphorylated Akt (Ser 473), Akt, phosphorylated mTOR (Ser 2448), phosphorylated p70S6K (Thr 421/Ser 424) and p70S6K. GAPDH was used as a loading control. Results shown are representative of three independent experiments. Bands were quantified and data are expressed as fold of control. bP<0.05, cP<0.01 vs control cells.