Figure 9
From: Deficiency of α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Lung Fibrosis in Mice
Dose-dependent effect of GTS-21 on rhTGF-β1-induced fibrogenic genes and signaling. (A-D) Activation of α7 nAChR affects profibrotic genes in rhTGF-β1-stimulated fibroblasts 24 h after rhTGF-β1 challenge. The cells were pretreated with GTS-21 (6.25, 12.5 and 25 µM separately; PBS was applied in control group) 30 min before stimulation with rhTGF-β1 (5 ng/mL). The cells were harvested 24 h after rhTGF-β stimulation. (A) Acta2 mRNA. (B) Col1al mRNA. (C) Fstl1 mRNA. (D) Fsp1 mRNA. *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001 rhTGF-β1 versus rhT-GF-β1 + GTS-21 groups. N = 4 in each group. Data are mean ± SD. (E) Activation of α7 nAChR affects fibrogenic signaling in rhTGF-β1-stimulated fibroblasts. The fibroblasts were pretreated with GTS-21 at the indicated concentration 30 min before rhTGF-β1 stimulation. The cells were collected 24 h after rhTGF-β1 challenge to analyze TGF-β signaling proteins p-PTP1B, p-Smad2/3, α-SMA and collagen 1 by immunoblotting. Experiments were repeated three times.