Figure 2

Characterisation of primary Dupuytren’s fibroblasts and control fibroblasts. (A) Expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3 mRNA in Dupuytren’s fibroblasts and control fibroblasts is shown relative to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA expression. Analysis was done by quantitative PCR. RNA input for Dupuytren’s fibroblasts and control cDNA synthesis consisted of an equal mixture of RNA derived from all four Dupuytren’s fibroblasts (mixture 1 through 4) and all four control fibroblasts (mixture 1 through 4), respectively. Values are expressed relative to the average of control (mixture 1 through 4) TGF-β1 mRNA values. (B) Immunostaining of Dupuytren’s and control fibroblasts for α-SMA expression. Representative staining is shown for fibroblasts derived from Dupuytren’s patient 4 and control patient 1. (C) Expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), Smad2, Smad3 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA in Dupuytren’s and control fibroblasts derived from four individuals each is shown relative to GAPDH mRNA expression. Analysis was done by quantitative PCR. Individual control (1 through 4) and Dupuytren’s (1 through 4) mRNA values are shown as well as their average values. Thus the average of mRNA expression of the Dupuytren-derived fibroblasts is stated relative to the average of the control values.