Figure 4

TGF-β1 pulses increased matrix crosslinks, LTBP-1 and collagen I deposition. Fibroblasts were pulsed with or without TGF-β1 for 4 h or 2 × 4 h. ECM was decellularised days 1 and 7 post-pulse. Normalised densitometric SDS-PAGE ratios of the (a) crosslinks:α; (b) β:α bands of the pepsin-digested ECM; (c) collagen V; and (d) corresponding silver-stained gel. The formation of high molecular weight aggregates of pepsin-resistant collagen is indicated by §; (e) LTBP-1 (red); (f) collagen I (red); (g) fibronectin (green) and nuclei stained with DAPI (blue) of the TGF-β1-pulsed ECM. Scale bars = 200 μM. *P <0.05 versus respective untreated controls. Data are represented as mean ± SD, calculated from three independent studies in triplicate, and expressed as fold changes over respective controls. ECM, extracellular matrix; LTBP-1, latent transforming growth factor binding protein-1; SD, standard deviation; TGF-β1 transforming growth factor-β1.