FIGURE 1.

Disruption of microtubules by colchicine promotes myofibroblast differentiation. HLF were stimulated with 1 μm colchicine (Colch) for 6 or 24 h, with or without a 30-min pretreatment with 10 μm paclitaxel, as indicated. A, immunofluorescent staining of HLF with α-tubulin antibodies. Scale bar, 200 μm. B, HLF were examined for actin stress fiber formation and α-SMA expression by phalloidin staining and immunofluorescence with α-SMA antibodies, respectively. Scale bar, 200 μm. C, levels of SRF, α-SMA, and CTGF mRNA were examined by real time PCR. D, total protein lysates from HLF were analyzed by Western blot with antibodies against α-SMA or β-actin.