Fig. 2: IL-17a activates LX2 cell line, promotes their proliferation and migration, and inhibits their apoptosis.

A Representative images indicating IL-17RA expression in the LX2 cell line. (Immunofluorescence staining, 200x, blue fluorescence, nuclei; red fluorescence, IL-17RA). B Representative images of quiescent (upper) and activated (lower) LX2 cells before and after IL-17a stimulation. C Cell proliferation curves of LX2 cells stimulated with 20 ng/ml IL-17a or treated with PBS, as determined by a CCK8 assay. D Proliferation rate of cells with IL-17a stimulation or PBS treatment, as determined by an EdU incorporation assay. E Representative images and statistical analysis of cell proliferation after IL-17a stimulation or PBS treatment by a plate colony formation assay. F Representative images of cell proliferation after IL-17a stimulation or PBS treatment, as shown by EdU incorporation (immunofluorescence staining, 200x, blue fluorescence, nuclei; red fluorescence, proliferating cells). G Representative images and statistical analysis of cell migration after IL-17a stimulation or PBS treatment in the Transwell assay. H Representative images of cell migration after IL-17a stimulation or PBS treatment in the wound healing assay. I Statistical analysis of wound closure after IL-17a stimulation or PBS treatment in the wound healing assay. J Apoptosis rate after IL-17a stimulation or PBS treatment, as determined by a TUNEL assay. K Representative images of apoptosis in the LX2 cell line after IL-17a stimulation or PBS treatment in the TUNEL assay (immunofluorescence staining, 200x, blue fluorescence, nuclei, green fluorescence, nuclei in cells undergoing apoptosis). L mRNA expression of several hepatic stellate cell-related genes in LX2 cell lines after IL-17a stimulation or PBS treatment. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001.