NOTCH1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Our results also confirmed that TQ inhibited protein expression of Notch1 (receptor), Jagged1 (ligand), NICD1 (nuclear transcriptional factor), and Hes1 (downstream Notch pathway target gene) after transfection of a NICD-expressing vector, in agreement with our observed effects of TQ on HCC cells before transfection, suggesting that TQ attenuates Notch pathway activity.