The anti-EMT effect of NaHS on HK-2 cells was blocked by the inhibitors of ERK1/2 and β-catenin.

<p>(A) The expression of non-phosphorylated β-catenin under the condition of ERK signal was blocked. ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 (10μM) was given to HK-2 cells for 1 hour and then cells were incubated with TGF-β1 for 36 hours. (B) Effects of NaHS (100μM) on the expression of fibronectin, E-cadherin,TβR I and α-SMA in the presence of TGF-β1 and U0126 or the β-catenin inhibitors XAV-939. Pretreatment by NaHS (100μM) is given to HK-2 cells for 12 hours and then U0126 (10μM) or XAV-939 (10μM) were given to the cells for 1 hour before they were incubated with TGF-β1 for the following 36 hours. (C) Graphical representation of the relative quantification for the protein level. The relative values were calculated by the density of targeted proteins vs GAPDH (%). The values of mean ± SEM (n = 3) were gained from relative abundance quantified by densitometry and normalized to GAPDH. ^#P<0.05 vs. control group, *P<0.05 vs TGF-β1 group. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test.