Figure 6.

CCN5 functions in TGF-β1-induced proliferation and profibrotic phenotype through the Smad6-CCN2 pathway. To investigate the underlying mechanism, the effect of CCN5 on Smad6 signaling was determined (A). After silencing Smad6 levels by preconditioning with its specific siRNA, the expression levels of CCN2 were measured (B). The function of Smad6 in CCN5-triggered inhibitory effects on fibroblast proliferation (C) was ascertained by [³H]-TdR. The corresponding effect on collagen contents was also determined (D). ^*P<0.05.