FIGURE 5 .

Expression of E-cadherin, α-SMA, and collagen I in cultured A549 cells was assessed with Western blot. Cells were either treated with 2 U/mL thrombin for 72 hours with or without pretreatment with 60 mM PAR-1 siRNA or 1 μM argatroban or 10 nM GÖ6976 or 4 μM rottlerin or 10 μM PKCε antagonist peptide for 30 minutes. Cells were also treated with 10 ng/mL TGF-β for 72 hours for positive control. Cell lysates were prepared, and then immunoblotted with antibodies for E-cadherin, α-SMA, and collagen I. Thrombin significantly increased α-SMA and collagen I expression and decreased E-cadherin expression. PAR-1 siRNA transfection, pretreatment with argatroban, GÖ6976, rottlerin or PKCε antagonist peptide inhibited epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by thrombin. Data are means ± SE; n = 5/group. *, † P < .05; **, †† P < .01. **; compared with control. ^{†, ††}; compared with thrombin.