FIGURE 6.

Effect of GSK-3β inhibition on α-smooth muscle actin mRNA expression. A, quantitative two-step real time PCR for human α-smooth muscle actin and human 18 S rRNA was conducted using specific primers and probes. TGF-β, CT-1, LiCl, and SB216763 each increased α-actin mRNA expression (B). A7R5 cells were transiently transfected with SV40 Renilla luciferase vector and either NFAT-luc or SRF-luc. After treatment with TGF-β, CT-1, LiCl, or SB216763 for 48 h, cells were lysed, and luciferase activity was determined. Each stimulus increased NFAT and SRF activity (n = 8, mean ± S.E.; different from unstimulated cells; ^*, p < 0.05; ^**, p < 0.001, ANOVA).