ox-LDL stimulates expression of genes relevant to HSC activation, which is dose-dependently eliminated by curcumin
Serum-starved HSCs were stimulated with ox-LDL at indicated concentrations in serum-depleted media for 24 hr in the absence (A & B) or presence (C & D) of curcumin at 0-30 μM. Total RNA and whole cell protein extracts were respectively prepared from the cells for real-time PCR (A & C) and Western blotting analyses (B & D). *P<0.05 versus cells without treatment (n=3) (1st corresponding column on the left); ‡P<0.05 versus cells treated with ox-LDL only (the 2nd corresponding column). β-actin was used in Western blotting analyses as an internal control for equal protein loading. Representatives were from three independent experiments.