Fig. 5. DHA decreases TGFβ-induced expression of COL1A1 and αSMA by affecting the nuclear accumulation of SMAD3.

Lx2 cells treated with DMSO (C-), 30 µM of DHA (D), 7.5 ng/ml TGFβ (T) or both DHA and TGFβ (DT) for the indicated times. a Luciferase levels measured 24 h after treatments in cells previously transfected with the SBE-Luc plasmid. Data are mean ± SD from two experiments. b GAPDH, SMAD3 and p-SMAD3 proteins in total extracts. c C23 and SMAD3 proteins in nuclear extracts. d SERPINE1, SMAD7, COL1A1 and αSMA mRNA levels. Data are mean ± SD from two experiments