Figure 7.

Praziquantel (PZQ) inhibits TGF‐β/Smad signalling pathway by up‐regulating Smad7 expression in hepatic stellate cells. (a) Quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) analysis to show the siRNA‐mediated reduction in Smad7 mRNA levels in LX‐2 cells (n = 6). (b, c) Western blot analysis to show the siRNA‐mediated reduction in Smad7 protein levels in LX‐2 cells (n = 5). (e) qRT‐PCR analysis of collagen type I α1 (COL1A1) and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) mRNA expression in LX‐2 cells. The ΔΔC_t method was used to quantify relative changes (n = 6). (f) Western blot for COL1A1, α‐SMA, phosphorylated Smad2/3 (p‐Smad2/3), and a loading control (GAPDH) protein levels in LX‐2 cells. (g) Quantitative analysis of COL1A1, α‐SMA, p‐Smad2/3, and GAPDH expression (n = 5). (d) qRT‐PCR analysis of miR‐21 expression in LX‐2 cells after treatment with praziquantel (30 μg·ml⁻¹) at different time points. The ΔΔC_t method was used to quantify relative changes (n = 6). All data are presented as means ± SEM. *P < .05, significantly different as indicated; ns, non‐significant