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. 2017 Mar 14;8:111. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00111

Figure 4.

Figure 4

Dkk-3 enhances the expression of phospho-Smad1/5/8. (A–F) Western blots and the corresponding densitometric analysis of phospho-Smad1/5/8 in cells incubated with hrDkk-3 for different times (30, 60, and 90 min). HUVECs incubated with TGF-β1 (25 ng/ml) were used as positive controls. Values are means ± SEM. **p < 0.001 vs. baseline condition. (G) ChIP assay showing the increased binding of Smad4 to the VEGF promoter in response to the incubation with hrDkk-3 (10 ng/ml, 60 min). Values are means ± SD and are expressed as percentage of inputs. *p < 0.05 vs. baseline condition. (H) Schematic representation of the signaling events occurring in cells in response to Dkk-3 exposure and leading to VEGF transcriptional upregulation through a recruitment of the Smad1,5,8 and Smad4.