FIGURE 6.

Strain-induced type II cell differentiation is mediated via integrins α6 and β1. A, E17 fetal type II cells were incubated in suspension with antibodies against α6 or β1 or the negative control IgG. Cells were then plated on substrates coated with laminin and exposed to 5% cyclic strain for 24 h. Samples were processed to detect SP-C mRNA expression by qRT-PCR. n = 4; *, p < 0.05 versus control, **, p < 0.05 versus IgG strain. B, E17 type II cells were plated on substrates coated with integrin α2, α6, or β1 antibodies and then exposed to 5% cyclic strain for 24 h. Samples were processed as described above. n = 4; *, p < 0.05 versus their respective controls.