TLR4, E-cadherin, and α-SMA expression in HK-2 cells exposed to TLR4 agonist and IL-18 stimulation in vitro.
A–C, densitometric analysis of cell lysate TLR4 (A), α-SMA (B), and E-cadherin (C) expression represented as percentages of GAPDH following 3 days of cell exposure to recombinant human IL-18 (100 ng/ml) in the presence or absence of a TLR4 agonist (E. coli K, ultrapure LPS-EK, 1 μg/ml). D, gel photograph of cell lysate TLR4, E-cadherin, α-SMA, and GAPDH expression following 3 days of cell exposure to recombinant human IL-18 (100 ng/ml) in the presence or absence of a TLR4 agonist (E. coli K, ultrapure LPS-EK, 1 μg/ml) or antagonist (E. coli K12 msbB LPS; 1 μg/ml).