Effects of acetoacetate (AcAc) on TGF-β1-induced LX2 and HSC-T6 cell activation. (A,B) LX2 and HSC-T6 cells were treated with 10 ng/mL TGF-β and 0, 5, or 10 mM of AcAc for 24 h. Western blot and qPCR were used to evaluate the protein and mRNA expression of α-SMA and Col1a2. (C) LX2 and HSC-T6 cells were treated with 0, 5, or 10 mM of AcAc for 24 h and then subjected to 10 ng/mL TGF-β for the indicated time periods, and the lysates were analyzed by Western blot and quantification to detect SMAD protein phosphorylation. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001 vs. relative control. ##, p < 0.01 vs. black bar. Data are shown as means ± SD.