FIGURE 3.

Inhibition of endogenous NTPase activity by POM-1 is pro-fibrotic. A, ATP hydrolysis was measured using a malachite green assay. Addition of 30 μm POM-1 inhibited ENTPD-mediated hydrolysis of exogenously added ATP (30 μm) after 1 h. POM-1 treatment for 24 h increased CF α-SMA and PAI-1 protein expression (B) and collagen synthesis (C) in a concentration-dependent manner. D, POM-1 pretreatment (1 h) increased basal ERK phosphorylation and prolonged 10 μm ATP-stimulated ERK phosphorylation. E, stimulatory effects of 30 μm POM-1 on collagen synthesis and expression of α-SMA and PAI-1 protein were blocked by 50 μm suramin (sur). *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001 versus untreated controls; +++, p < 0.001 between groups indicated. Quantitative data are presented as mean ± S.E. of at least three independent experiments. cont, control; WB, Western blot.