Effects of HS on AA-induced α-SMA and cytokeratin-18 expression in HKC cells.

<p>Cultured HKC cells were incubated in media, media containing 10 μmol/L AA and/or 10 mg/L HS, respectively. A: after 12 h of incubation, cells were collected and the mRNA expression levels of α-SMA and cytokeratin-18 were measured by real time quantitative PCR. B: after 36 h of incubation, cells were lysed and the total lysates were used to detect the protein expression levels of α-SMA and cytokeratin-18 by Western blot assay. The relative protein expression level was expressed as the target protein/β-actin protein ratio. Values are represented as mean ± SD (n = 3). *<i>P</i><0.05 vs. control, **<i>P</i><0.01 vs. control, ^Δ<i>P</i><0.05 vs. AA alone, ^ΔΔ<i>P</i><0.01 vs. AA alone.