Tumor Necrosis Factor-Like Weak Inducer of Apoptosis Accelerates the Progression of Renal Fibrosis in Lupus Nephritis by Activating SMAD and p38 MAPK in TGF-β1 Signaling Pathway

Figure 7

Effects of SB431542 on hTWEAK induced expressions of TGF-β1, p-smad2, and p-p38 MAPK proteins in HK2 cells. Total cell lysates were collected for Western blotting to measure TGF-β1 (a), p-Smad2 (b), and p-p38 MAPK (c) protein expressions. The representative experiments were presented at the top. The ratios of TWEAK/β-actin IOD, p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK IOD, and p-Smad2/Smad2 IOD were shown at the bottom. HK2: HK2 cells cultured without stimulation; hTWEAK: HK2 cells cultured with hTWEAK; hTWEAK+anti-TWEAK: HK2 cells cocultured with hTWEAK and anti-TWEAK mAb; TGF-β1: HK2 cells cultured with TGF-β1; and hTWEAK+SB431542: HK2 cells cultured with hTWEAK and SB431542. The error bars represent the standard deviation. Each experiment was repeated at least 3 times. versus HK2 cells cultured without stimulation and versus HK2 cells cultured with hTWEAK.

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