Fig. 4.

α-SMA mRNA and protein levels are significantly and persistently increased in adult wounds. a Total RNA extracted from 12 h post-injury until day 28 post-injury from adult wounds and subjected to qRT-PCR analysis showed that α- SMA mRNA levels increased significantly from 12 h and remained elevated until Day 28. Values are means ± SEM of three independent studies performed in duplicate. Statistical analyses were performed using Student’s t test. **p < 0.01; *p < 0.05. b Western blots using α- SMA antibody (1:100) showed that adult wounds express significantly greater α- SMA protein from 12 h to Day 28. c Densitometry analysis of α- SMA protein bands showed persistently elevated expression at 12 h and Day 28. GAPDH was used as loading control. Shown here is a representative immunoblot of up to three similar such blots. AC-adult control; AW-adult wound