Fig. 5: Ets-1 accelerated hepatocyte apoptosis induced by TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling.

a Hepatocytes were treated with TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL) for 12, 24 and 36 h and then used for immunoblot analysis. b, c siRNAs of NC, Smad3 (b) or Ets-1 (c) were added to hepatocytes for 36 h and stimulated with TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL) for 24 h. Total lysates were subjected to immunoblotting of cleaved-caspase3, Smad3 (b) or Ets-1 (c). d Primary hepatocytes were treated with shNC and shEts-1 recombinant adenovirus for 36 h. Then, the cells were incubated with TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL) for 24 h. The cells were stained with TUNEL. Scale bar: 100 μm. Representative images are on the left, and quantitative analysis is on the right. e Hepatocytes were transfected with shNC or shEts-1 and Gfp or Smad3 recombinant adenovirus for 36 h. Then, the cells were stimulated with TGF-β1 (2 ng/mL) for 24 h. Lysates were used for immunoblotting. f Hepatocytes were transfected with Gfp and Ets-1 recombinant adenovirus for 24 h, and then TGF-β1 (2 ng/mL) was added for 36 h. Total lysates of cells were used for immunoblotting. Data are presented as mean ± SEM (at least three independent experiments). *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01