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

Figure 7

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