Growth differentiation factor 11 modulates metabolism, mitigating the pro-tumoral behavior provided by M2-like macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma-derived cells

Figure 1 Growth differentiation factor 11 induces Smad signaling pathway activation in THP-1-derived M0 macrophages. A: Representative images of western blots; B-D: Densitometry analysis (β-actin was used as a loading control); E: Cell viability (H₂O₂ was used as a negative control); F: Cell proliferation (cytarabine was used as a negative control); G: Cellular morphology, each image is representative of at least three independent experiments. Scale bars: 150 μm (200 ×, original magnification). Each column or point represents the mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments carried out in triplicate. ^aP ≤ 0.05 vs not treated cells. GDF11: Growth differentiation factor 11; NT: Not treated cells; AraC: Cytarabine.