Fig. 2.

API inhibits fibroblast proliferation by suppressing Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling pathway. After the treatment with API in different concentrations, the Western blotting analysis indicated that API could inhibit the expressions of Wnt3a, β-catenin, cyclinD1, and PCNA, showing a concentration-dependent manner; the value of p-GSK3β/ GSK3β also gradually decreased (a–c). Wnt3a was overexpressed in fibroblasts and API was used to treat overexpressed fibroblasts. The Western blotting analysis showed that Wnt3a-OE promoted PCNA and the levels of Wnt3a/β-catenin related proteins expression. The inhibitory effect of API on PCNA, Wnt3a, and its downstream proteins was partially reversed by overexpression of Wnt3a (d–f). β-actin was used as a loading control. The data are mean ± SD from three independent experiments.* P < 0.05 versus the control group; ^#P < 0.05 versus the API-treated groups