Fig. 2: TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway activation was responsible for fibroblast activation. | Cell Death Discovery

Fig. 2: TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway activation was responsible for fibroblast activation.

From: Circ_0020256 induces fibroblast activation to drive cholangiocarcinoma development via recruitment of EIF4A3 protein to stabilize KLF4 mRNA

Fig. 2

CAFs were treated with TGF-β1 (20 ng/mL) with or without LY2109761 (50 μM). A The protein abundance of α-SMA, vimentin, FAP, p-Smad2, Smad2, p-Smad3, and Smad3 in CAFs was determined by western blotting. B The viability of CAFs was detected by CCK-8. C The migration of CAFs was assessed by scratch assay. D The invasive ability of CAFs was evaluated by Transwell assay. E Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detected the release of IL-6 protein from CAFs. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001.

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