Figure 4

CTGF expression in SSc-MSCs. (A) qRT-PCR analysis of mRNA expression of CTGF, before and after VEGF treatment. Each experimental condition was performed in triplicate. All the results are expressed as Median (range) (***P <0.0001). (B) Western blot of CTGF expression. VEGF stimulation increased CTGF proteins levels in both SSc-ubiquitously and HC-MSCs, with a significantly higher expression in SSc-MSCs. Each experimental condition was performed in triplicate. Blot was representative of all the experiments. The values were expressed as arbitrary unit of optical density (OD) (**P <0.001; ***P <0.0001).