Saikosaponin-d alleviates hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway and blocking the EMT process

Figure 3 Saikosaponin-d inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition progression by suppressing the transforming growth factor-β1/Smad signaling pathway. A: MRNA expression levels of E-cadherin in mice from the control (C), carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), and CCl₄ + saikosaponin-d (SSd) groups, n = 6; B: MRNA expression levels of N-cadherin in mice from the C, CCl₄, and CCl₄ + SSd groups, n = 6; C: MRNA expression levels of vimentin in mice from the C, CCl₄, and CCl₄ + SSd groups, n = 6; D: Protein expression levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin in mice from the C, CCl₄, and CCl₄ + SSd groups, n = 4; E: MRNA expression levels of E-cadherin in LX-2 cells from the control (Con), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and TGF-β1 + SSd groups, n = 4; F: MRNA expression levels of N-cadherin in LX-2 cells from the Con, TGF-β1, and TGF-β1 + SSd groups, n = 4; G: MRNA expression levels of vimentin in LX-2 cells from the Con, TGF-β1, and TGF-β1 + SSd groups, n = 4; H: Protein expression levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin in LX-2 cells from the Con, TGF-β1, and TGF-β1 + SSd groups, n = 4. C: Control; CCl₄: Carbon tetrachloride; SSd: Saikosaponin-d; TGF-β1: Transforming growth factor-β1.