Figure 5.

GDF7 promoted fibrosis through the BMPR2/Smad1, -5, and -9 pathway

(A) Fibrosis was determined by immunofluorescence labeling with N-cad, α-SMA, and FN together with Masson staining in cultured TM cells. (B) The mRNA levels of GDF7 and fibrosis-related markers N-cad, α-SMA, and FN were tested by quantitative real-time PCR in four groups of TM cells (n = 3 per group). (C and D) The ratio between phosphorylated and total Smad1, -5, and -9 and Smad4 protein was measured and analyzed by immunoblot in TM cells (n = 3 per group). Scale bars, 20 μm. The data were represented as mean ± SD. Compared with rhGDF7 group: ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01. Compared with NTM cells: #p < 0.05.