Figure 5. Activation of PAR-4 by selective agonist induced pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic responses in PTEC.

Cells were incubated with PAR-4 agonist AYPGKF-NH₂ (AP4) for the indicated duration and doses, and gene and protein expression was determined by real-time PCR and ELISA respectively. PAR-4 agonist increased IL-6, CCL-2, IL-8 and ICAM-1 mRNA expressions in a dose- (A) and time- (B) dependent manner. PAR-4 agonist increased CTGF, but not TGFβ mRNA expression in a dose- (C) and time- (D) dependent manner. PAR-4 agonist induced IL-6, CCL-2, IL-8 and ICAM-1 protein secretion (E). *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001 compared with control.