Skip to main content
. 2021 Mar 10;22(6):2809. doi: 10.3390/ijms22062809

Figure 4.

Figure 4

Danegaptide reduces TGFβ1-evoked changes in adherens and tight junction proteins and epithelial leakiness. Primary hPTECs were cultured in low glucose (5 mM) ± TGFβ1 (10 ng/mL) ± danegaptide (100 nM) for 48 h. Expression of E-cadherin (ECAD), N-cadherin (NCAD) and vimentin (panel (A)) and of claudin-2, zona occludens 1 (ZO-1) and β-catenin (panel (B)) was assessed via Western blotting. TGFβ1 reduced E-cadherin, claudin-2 and ZO-1 expression and increased N-cadherin and vimentin expression. Effects were partially reversed by danegaptide (100 nM). Representative blots for each protein are shown, with expression normalised by re-probing for ɑ-tubulin as a loading control. Results are presented as the mean ± SEM (n = 3), with key significances indicated (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001; one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-test). In panel (C), transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) assessed the consequence of altered adherens and tight junction protein expression on epithelial integrity. HK2 cells were cultured in low glucose (5 mM) on Transwell inserts and transepithelial resistance measured. TGFβ1 reduced TER, an effect partially restored by the addition of danegaptide (100 nM). Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM (n = 3; *** p < 0.001).