Figure 3.

CSE, PDGF, and IL-6 induce collagen synthesis and BSMC and pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation. (A–F) Human BSMCs (A–C) and human PASMCs (D–F) were incubated with CSE (1%), PDGF-BB (10 ng/ml), and IL-6 (10 ng/ml) for 24 hours, after which the intracellular collagen-I protein levels were measured by using WBs (A and D), and the levels of cell proliferation were measured by using a bromodeoxyuridine assay (B and E) and Ki67 staining (C and F). In A and D, the blots are representative immunoblots of four independent experiments. Bar graphs show changes in collagen-I levels in A and D and in proliferation in B and E. In C and F, representative images show labeling of proliferative Ki67-positive cells (red) and DAPI (blue). Results are expressed as means ± SEs; n = 4. Scale bars, 50 μm. *P < 0.05 versus Cntr.