Protective Effect of Triptolide against Glomerular Mesangial Cell Proliferation and Glomerular Fibrosis in Rats Involves the TGF-β1/Smad Signaling Pathway

Figure 6

The expression of TGF-β1 mRNA, Smad3, and Ski in the renal tissues of the different groups. Triptolide downregulated Smad3 mRNA expression but upregulated Ski mRNA expression in the renal tissues of the model rats. In the model group, the level of expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 mRNA in the renal tissues of the rats of the model group at the different time points was high and time-dependent but the expression of Ski mRNA was lower than that in the control group. Compared to the triptolide treatment group, the level of expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 mRNA in the renal tissues of the rats of the model group at the different time points was lower and time-dependent but the expression of Ski mRNA was higher ( versus the control group, versus the different time points in the same group, and versus the TGF-β1-induced group, ).