Figure 6
Fibroblast ECM downmodulated collagen I production in myofibroblasts. Four-day TGF-β1-treated myofibroblasts were dispase passaged and reseeded onto fibroblast ECM. Classic myofibroblast markers were assessed 7 days post-culture. (a) Immunofluorescence images showing the presence and distribution of α-SMA (red); F-actin (phalloidin, green) and nuclei stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bars = 200 μM. (b) Normalised densitometric SDS-PAGE analysis of the 24 h collagen secretion rate; (c) corresponding silver-stained gel; (d) densitometric analysis of α-SMA immunoblots normalised to β-actin bands; and (e) corresponding immunoblots. *P <0.05 versus respective to TCP controls. *P <0.05 versus respective to myofibroblasts passaged and reseeded on TCP. Data are represented as mean ± SD, calculated from duplicate studies in triplicate, and expressed as fold changes over respective controls. α-SMA, α-smooth muscle actin; ECM, extracellular matrix; SD, standard deviation; TCP, tissue culture plastic; TGF-β1 transforming growth factor-β1.