Figure 2. α1KO CD cells undergo EMT.

(A) Cell lysates (10 μg/lane) from serum-starved WT and α1KO CD cells were analyzed by Western blot for levels of aquaporin-2 (AQP2). Mesangial cells (MC) were used as a negative control. (B) Morphology of WT, α1KO, and α1KO-Rec CD cells grown on plastic. α1KO cells showed a fibroblast-like phenotype relative to the epithelial morphology observed in WT or α1KO-Rec cells. (C) CD cells were stained with anti–ZO-1 and anti-αSMA antibodies to visualize levels and localization of epithelial and myofibroblast markers. (D) Western blot analysis showing loss of epithelial markers (E-cadherin), increased myofibroblast markers (αSMA), and increased levels of E-cadherin suppressors (ZEB1) in α1KO compared with WT or α1KO-Rec CD cells (20 μg/lane cell lysates used for analysis). Scale bars: 20 μm (B); 10 μm (C).