Figure 3.

Gene silencing of α1, α2 and α11 integrins in hMSC. hMSC were transduced with α1-, α2- and α11-specific shRNA sequences as well as with con-shRNA. (a) Semi-quantitative PCR demonstrated a downregulation of the three targeted integrins. Data are representative of three independent experiments. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis for α1 (b), α2 (c) and α11 (d) integrins in shRNA-transduced hMSC. The analysis showed a significant and reproducible integrin silencing in hMSC. Additionally, a compensatory upregulation was evident between the three α-subunits. Data consist of quantitative RT-PCR measurements from three independent infections (n=3; ^*P<0.05; ^**P<0.01; ^***P<0.001; ANOVA tested versus con-shRNA). (e) Confirmation of the integrin α1, α2 and α11 KD on protein level. Shown is a representative experiment from two independent western blots of all donors