Fig. 2

Effects of 24-h 10 mM NAC challenge and 24-h combination 40 μM curcumin/10 mM NAC challenge on myofibroblast associated gene expression in fibroblasts: 10 mM NAC alone or co-treatment with 40 μM curcumin and 10 mM NAC does not induce significant changes to gene expression of Collagen 1a1 (COL1A1), Smooth Muscle Actin (ACTA2), Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA), and Cyclin D in NHLF (n = 3) as compared to untreated controls. Co-treatment in IPF-F (n = 4) induces significant decreases in Smooth Muscle Actin and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen, but there is no significant change in Collagen 1A1 and Cyclin D as compared to untreated controls. When comparing treatment conditions there is a significant increase in the capacity of 20 μM curcumin alone to reduce gene expression of COLA1A, ACTA2 and Cyclin D in both IPF-F and NHLF as compared to co-treatment with 10 mM NAC. This significant trend is also observed for PCNA in NHLF. * indicates p value < 0.05 ** indicates p value < 0.005