Fig. 7.

Long term TS exposure-induced EMT was involved in p-38 activation and CSC-like properties. Mice exposed to TS were treated with or without p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB 203580) for 12 weeks. a Liver tissues were stained immunohistochemically for E-cad, ZO-1, Vimentin and N-cad. b-e Fold changes of E-cadherin (b), ZO-1 (c), Vimentin (d) and N-cadherin (e)-positive area in TS group relative to FA group. f Western blotting of E-cadherin and Vimentin in liver tissues. β-actin was served as the loading control. g-h The indicated proteins relative to β-actin were assessed by densitometric analysis; six animal samples per group were used for the densitometric analysis. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. The significance was assessed with one-way ANOVA test. # P < 0.05, ## P < 0.01, compared with FA control; * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, compared with TS + DMSO group. FA = filtered air; TS = tobacco smoke