Figure 7.

mRNA expression of major ECMs in 3D cultured human corneal stroma fibroblasts (HCSFs). In the absence or presence of 1 nM or 5 nM TGF-β2, 3D HCSF spheroids were prepared during a 6-day culture and assessed by qPCR analysis to evaluate the mRNA expression of ECM molecules including COL1, COL4, COL6, FN, and αSMA. Fresh preparations were used in duplicate for each experiment (n = 15, each). Data are presented as the arithmetic mean ± the standard error of the mean (SEM). * p < 0.05 (ANOVA followed by a Tukey’s multiple comparison test).