Fig. 3

GAS5 repressed the TGF-β1-induced pericyte–myofibroblast transformation. Pericytes were transfected with pcDNA3.0 containing GAS5 (GAS5) or shGAS5 and then exposed to TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL) for 12 h. They were divided into six groups: control, TGF-β1, TGF-β1 + vector, TGF-β1 + GAS5, TGF-β1 + shNC, and TGF-β1 + shGAS5. A, B RT-qPCR examination of the GAS5 level. C Immunofluorescence staining detection of desmin and α-SMA expressions. D Western blotting analysis of the protein levels of desmin, NG-2, α-SMA, and collagen I. E Western blotting was used to detect the expression of PDGFR α/β. For A–E, n = 3. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001