FIGURE 5.

The role of NDRG2 in mediating the antifibrotic effects of NPLC0393. (A) LX-2 cells transfected with siNDRG2 or siNC for 24 h were treated with NPLC0393 for 24 h and further stimulated with TGF-β1 for another 24 h. The protein levels of α-SMA and COL1A1 were analyzed by western blotting. (B) LX-2 cells were treated as described above, except that the cells were stimulated with TGF-β1 for 30 min, and the protein levels of total and phosphorylated ERK1/2 and JNK were analyzed by western blotting. (C) Schematic showing the mechanism underlying the protective effect of NPLC0393 against hepatic fibrosis. NPLC0393 inhibits TGF-β1-induced downregulation of NDRG2. In turn, NDRG2 upregulation disrupts the transcription of α-SMA and COL1A1 by inhibiting TGF-β1-mediated phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, thereby preventing HSC activation.