Figure 5.

Knockdown HO-1 stimulated the Wnt signaling pathway in HSC-T6 cells. We transfected si-HO-1 into HSC-T6 to knockdown HO-1 expression. (a) Expression of HO-1 after transfected with HO-1 siRNA. (b) Wnt1 and downstream factor protein levels after being transfected with si-HO-1. (c) The nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions were isolated to detect the expression of β-catenin. Lamin A and tubulin were used as the marker for nuclear and cytosolic proteins, respectively. (d) Wnt5a and downstream factor protein levels after being transfected with si-HO-1. (e) The protein levels of oxidative stress markers NQO1 and SOD. (f) Inhibition of HO-1 decreased the apoptosis levels as determined by flow cytometry of Annexin V-FITC/PI. (g) Inhibition HO-1 expression by si-HO-1 promoted cell growth of HSC-T6. (h) The protein levels of fibrosis-related genes were performed by Western blot. β-Actin was used as the loading control. Values are mean ± SD; ^∗P < 0.05, ^∗∗P < 0.01 vs. the si-Control group.