Figure 5.

Smad3 is required for myostatin‐induced tenogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells. The effect of siRNA knockdown of Smad2 and 3 on myostatin signaling was assessed by RT‐PCR and immunofluorescence staining. siRNA (100 μm) targeting Smad2 (si‐Smad2), Smad3 (si‐Smad3), or nontargeting siRNA (negative control) was transfected into C2C12 cells. (A) Relative tenomodulin and myogenin expression in C2C12 cells treated with myostatin for 5 days after transfection of Smad2, Smad3, and negative control siRNA was assessed. (B) Relative tenomodulin expression in C2C12 cells treated with myostatin for 5 days after transfection of Smad7 and negative control siRNA was assessed. Values represent the mean relative expression ±SEM. N = 3. *Statistically significant, P < 0.05.