Figure 8.

Endothelin induces α-SMA, paxillin, moesin, and ezrin expression; SSc fibroblasts overexpress α-SMA, paxillin, moesin, and ezrin in a manner that is dependent on endogenous ET-1 signaling. Normal and SSc fibroblasts were treated with and without 100 nM ET-1 (24 h) as indicated in the presence or absence of bosentan or wortmannin. Cell layers were harvested, and equal amounts of protein were subjected to SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis with anti-α-SMA, anti-paxillin, anti-moesin, and anti-ezrin antibodies, as indicated. As a loading control, Western analysis with an anti-GAPDH antibody also was performed.