Figure 2.

Comparison of BMPR-IA, BMPR-IB, and BMPR-II mRNA (A,C,E) and protein (B,D,F) expression levels in healthy human retina (ctr.) and eight retinoblastoma cells lines using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blot analysis. The integrity of the cDNA was tested by amplification of the GAPDH transcript. Depending on the origin of the primary antibodies (α-rabbit BMPRIA; α-goat BMPRIB and BMPRII), either α-goat actin or α-mouse GAPDH were used as housekeeping enzymes to normalize equal protein loading. Quantification of the RT-PCR data revealed that the level of BMPR-IA (A), BMPR-IB (C) and BMPR-II (E) transcripts in retinoblastoma cell lines resembles the mRNA levels found in the healthy human retina control (ctr.), except for the level of BMPR-IB in RBL-13 cells. Quantification of the Western Blot data confirmed the presence of BMPR-IA (B), BMPR-IB (D), and BMPR-II (F) protein in the healthy human retina and all retinoblastoma cells investigated. Values are means of three independent experiments (n=3) ± s.e.m. * P<0.05; statistical differences compared to basal group, calculated by one way Anova test and Newman-Keuls Post test comparing all experimental groups.