Fig. 8.

Inhibition of Yes-associated protein/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (YAP/TAZ) by verteporfin decreases hepatic stellate cell (HSC) proliferation and target gene expression in vitro. HSCs were isolated from mouse liver and treated with verteporfin or control culture medium for 5 days. A: verteporfin treatment decreased HSC proliferation as measured by DNA incorporation (n = 8). B: verteporfin treatment did not induce cytotoxicity (lactate dehydrogenase, LDH, release) of HSCs (n = 6). C: effect of verteporfin treatment (5 nM) on the release of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and amphiregulin by HSCs (n = 3). HGF and amphiregulin were measured by ELISA. Open bars, control; solid bars, verteporfin. D: effect of verteporfin treatment (5 nM) on expression of the YAP/TAZ target genes, CTGF, survivin, and Ankrd1, measured by Western blot. Results were quantitated by image analysis (n = 3). *P < 0.05 compared with control group.