Down-regulation of transforming growth factor β1/activin receptor-like kinase 1 pathway gene expression by herbal compound 861 is related to deactivation of LX-2 cells

AIM： To investigate the effect of herbal compound 861 （Cpd861） on the transforming growth factor-β1 （TGFβ1）/ activin receptor-like kinase 1 （ALK1, type Ⅰ receptor） signaling-pathway-related gene expression in the LX-2 cell line, and the inhibitory mechanism of Cpd861 on the activation of LX-2 cells.
METHODS： LX-2 cells were treated with TGFβ1 （5 ng/mL） Cpd861 （0.1 mg/mL）, TGFβ1 （5 ng/mL） plus Cpd861 （5 ng/mL） for 24 h to investigate the effect of Cpd861 on the TGFβ1/ALK1 pathway. Real-time PCR was performed to examine the expression of α-SMA （α-smooth muscle actin）, ALK1, Id1 （inhibitor of differentiation 1）. Western blotting was carried out to measure the levels of α-SMA and phosphorylated Smad1, and immunocytochemical analysis for the expression of α-SMA.
RESULTS： In LX-2 cells, TGFβ1/ALK1-pathway-related gene expression could be stimulated by TGFβ1, which led to excessive activation of the cells. Cpd861 decreased the activation of LX-2 cells by reducing the expression of α-SMA mRNA and protein expression. This effect was related to inhibition of the above TGFβ1/ALK1-pathway- related expression of genes such as Id1 and ALK1, and phosphorylation of Smad1 in LX-2 cells, even with TGFβ1 co-treatment for 24 h.
CONCLUSION： Cpd861 can restrain the activation of LX-2 cells by inhibiting the TGFβ1/ALK1/Smad1 pathway.

Down-regulation of transforming growth factor beta 1/activin receptor-like kinase 1 pathway gene expression by herbal compound 861 is related to deactivation of LX-2 cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of herbal compound 861 (Cpd861) on the transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF beta 1)/activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1, type I receptor) signaling-pathway-related gene expression in the LX-2 cell line, and the inhibitory mechanism of Cpd861 on the activation of LX-2 cells. METHODS: LX-2 cells were treated with TGF beta 1 (5 ng/mL) Cpd861 (0.1 mg/mL), TGF beta 1 (5 ng/mL) plus Cpd861 (5 ng/mL) for 24 h to investigate the effect of Cpd861 on the TGF beta 1/ALK1 pathway. Real-time PCR was performed to examine the expression of alpha-SMA (alpha-smooth muscle actin), ALK1, Id1 (inhibitor of differentiation 1). Western blotting was carried out to measure the levels of alpha-SMA and phosphorylated Smad1, and immunocytochemical analysis for the expression of alpha-SMA. RESULTS: In LX-2 cells, TGF beta 1/ALK1-pathway-related gene expression could be stimulated by TGF beta 1, which led to excessive activation of the cells. Cpd861 decreased the activation of LX-2 cells by reducing the expression of alpha-SMA mRNA and protein expression. This effect was related to inhibition of the above TGF beta 1/ALK1-pathway-related expression of genes such as Id1 and ALK1, and phosphorylation of Smad1 in LX-2 cells, even with TGF beta 1 co-treatment for 24 h. CONCLUSION: Cpd861 can restrain the activation of LX-2 cells by inhibiting the TGF beta 1/ALK1/Smad1 pathway.