Figure 5.
Praziquantel (PZQ) inhibits TGF‐β/Smad signalling in LX‐2 cells in vitro. (a) Quantitative real‐time PCR analysis of Smad3, Smad4, and Smad7 mRNA expression in LX‐2 cells. The ΔΔCt method was used to quantify relative changes (n = 6). (b) Western blot for phosphorylated Smad2/3 (p‐Smad2/3), Smad7, and a loading control (GAPDH) protein levels in LX‐2 cells. (c) Quantitative analysis of p‐Smad2/3, Smad7, and GAPDH expression (n = 5). (d) Immunofluorescence staining of LX‐2 cells with an antibody against Smad7, captured using confocal microscopy (n = 5). Scale bar, 100 μm. All data are presented as means ± SEM. *P < .05, significantly different as indicated; ns, non‐significant. ns P > .05