SMAD7 expression is induced by BMPs and inhibited by IL-6. Huh7 cells were treated with (A) BMP-2, BMP-6, and BMP-9 or (B) IL-6. Cells were harvested 24 hours later for isolation of total RNA. (C) Primary murine hepatocytes were treated with BMP-6 (50 ng/mL) or BMP-9 (5 ng/mL) for 24 hours or with TGF-β (5 ng/mL) for 6 hours. Levels of mRNA expression were determined by quantitative real-time PCR for SMAD7 and hepcidin and then normalized to mRNA expression of GAPDH. Results are presented as fold change (± SD) compared with untreated cells. The mean of 3 (A), 5 (B), and 4 (C) independent experiments is presented. Significant changes are marked by *(P < .05) or **(P < .005).