FIGURE 12.

Rescue of AhR expression in AhR knockdown NMuMG cells reduces the EMT markers and inhibits cell migration. sh-AhR NMuMG cells were transiently transfected with the CA-AhR construct (A), and the expression of E-cad and fibronectin was analyzed by immunoblotting (B). The expression of β-actin was used to normalize protein levels. C, the effects of CA-AhR on the mRNA levels of Snail and Slug/Snai2 in sh-AhR NMuMG cells were analyzed by qRT-PCR. mRNA levels were normalized by the expression of Gapdh and referred to the expression of control cells (sh-AhR). D, sh-AhR NMuMG cells transfected with CA-AhR were treated with TGFβ and studied for cell migration using would healing assays. The experiments were done in duplicate in at least three independent transfections. Data are shown as the mean ± S.D. Bar, 200 μm. Statistical significance: **, p < 0.001. A.U., arbitrary units.