Figure 6. Integrin α_vβ₃ mediates the stiffness-modulation of SEPT9 expression and EC proliferation.

(A) Integrin expression profiles of ECs on HSG and LSG. ECs on HSG and LSG for 24 h were stained with integrin antibodies against integrin α_vβ₃ and integrin β₃ and analyzed by flow cytometry. The green-line histogram represents the isotype control. The red- and blue-line histograms represent the surface expressions of the specific integrins on HSG and LSG, respectively. (B) ECs were seeded on HSG and LSG for the indicated times and cell lysates were immunoblotted with antibodies against the LIBS-β₃ domain (ligand-induced binding site), and β₃ (total integrin β₃). (C–D) ECs were pretreated with integrin α_vβ₃ blocking antibody (10 µg/mL) or IgG for 2 h prior to be seeded on HSG and LSG for 24 h followed by qPCR assays for SEPT9 expression (C) and cell cycle analyses by flow cytometry (D). * p<0.05 in comparison with the corresponding IgG controls on HSG and LSG. § p<0.05 for comparison between IgG control and integrin α_vβ₃ blocking antibody treatment on HSG. n.s. indicates no significant difference. (n = 5 for SEPT9 expression and n = 3 for cell cycle analyses).