Fig. 4. TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling was activated in LOX- or LOXL2-downregulated trophoblast cells.

a mRNA expression of TGFB1, TGFB2, and TGFB3 was determined by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. b, c Total and active transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) protein levels in culture supernatants from HTR-8/SVneo cells transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) were measured by enyme-linked immunosorbent assay. d Western blotting and e quantification analysis of pSmad2/3 and Smad2/3 in placentas from normal pregnant women and preeclampsia patients. f Western blotting and g quantification analysis of pSmad2/3 and Smad2/3 in HTR-8/SVneo cells transfected with siRNA. Statistical data were analyzed by Student’s t-test. Data are presented as the means ± SEM of three independent experiments. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; and ****P < 0.0001