Apigenin Alleviates Liver Fibrosis by Inhibiting Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Autophagy via TGF-β1/Smad3 and p38/PPARα Pathways

Figure 3

Apigenin restrained the activation of HSC and regulated the balance of TIMP1 and MMP2. Notes: (a) relative IL-1β, Col-1, α-SMA, TIMP1, and MMP2 mRNA levels were determined by qRT-PCR. (b) Western blot analysis of IL-1β, Col-1, α-SMA, TIMP1, and MMP2 protein levels. (c) IL-1β, Col-1, and α-SMA protein expressions in liver tissues are shown by immunohistochemical staining (200x). (d) Final evaluations were made using Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software to calculate the MIOD of the positive staining area. Data are presented as (; for CCl₄ (BDL) group vs. control group; ^# for CCl₄ (BDL)+apigenin (20 mg/kg) group vs. CCl₄ (BDL) group; ⁺ for CCl₄ (BDL)+apigenin (40 mg/kg) group vs. CCl₄ (BDL) group; ^! for CCl₄ (BDL)+apigenin (40 mg/kg) group vs. CCl₄ (BDL)+apigenin (20 mg/kg) group). Abbreviation: MIOD: mean of integrate optical density.

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