FIGURE 5.

HuR controls myofibroblast differentiation in response to TGF-β. Using siRNA-mediated knockdown, HLFs were subsequently treated with TGF-β1 for 72 hours. Cells were then stained using antibodies against HuR (red) or α-SMA (green); nuclei were visualized with Hoechst (blue). Note that in cells whereby HuR was present (siCtrl) and treated with TGF-β, there was a dramatic increase in a-SMA as well as a change in morphology indicative of myofibroblasts. In HLFs where HuR was reduced, this change in cellular morphology was abrogated.