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. 2023 Feb 24;24(5):4475. doi: 10.3390/ijms24054475

Figure 6.

Figure 6

Restorative effects of ERAs on ET-1-induced cell proliferation and α-SMA synthesis. (A) Schematic diagram representing timeline of cell culture and treatment. (B–D) Cells were treated with 20 nM ET-1 for 24 to induce myofibroblast differentiation. After treatment for 24 h, the media were changed to either ET-1 plus vehicle, ET-1 plus ambrisentan, or ET-1 plus bosentan. Cells were further cultured for 3 days. The analysis of cell proliferation and α-SMA expression was taken on day 1 or 3 after co-treatment. (B) Cell proliferation was calculated as the percentage relative to the control group. (C) Cells were stained for Ki-67 (green) and nucleus DAPI (blue). Scale bar, 10 µm. Proliferative capacity was calculated as the percentage of Ki-67-positive cells. (D) α-SMA protein expression was visualized by fluorescent microscope. Cells were stained for α-SMA (green) and nucleus DAPI (blue). Scale bar, 10 µm. Data were expressed as the mean ± SD. (n = 4). * p < 0.05 vs. vehicle; # p < 0.05 vs. ET-1.