AA treatment upregulates hepatic Smad7, but blocks expression of TGF-beta1 and CTGF and activation of Smad2/3 in CCl₄-induced liver disease in rats.

<p><b>A.</b> Real-time PCR analysis of TGF-beta1, CTGF, and Smad7 mRNA expression. <b>B</b>. Western blot analysis for levels of phospho-Smad2/3 and Smad7 protein expression. <b>C.</b> Immunohistochemistry for nuclear location of phospho-Smad2/3. Data represent mean ± SEM for groups of 8 animals. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 versus normal control; ^#p<0.05, ^##p<0.01, ^###p<0.001 versus CCl₄-induced disease control. Magnification: ×200 (C).