FIGURE 4.

Effects of matrix stiffness, with or without TGF‐β1 treatment, on the PGE₂ signaling pathway in endometrial stromal cells. (A) Relative fold change in gene expression of COX‐2, EP2, and EP4 in endometrial stromal cells grown on soft substrates (5‐kPa PGS), rigid substrates (30‐kPa PGS), and plastic for three days, with or without TGF‐β1 treatment (n = 7). Values are normalized to the GAPDH expression. All data were expressed as fold change relative to the cells grown at 5‐kPa PGS without TGF‐β1 treatment. (B) Left panel: Detection of protein levels of COX‐2, EP2, and EP4 by immunoblotting of lysates of endometrial stromal cells treated under the indicated conditions. Right panel: Relative fold change in the protein levels of COX‐2, EP2, and EP4 in endometrial stromal cells grown on soft (5‐kPa PGS) and rigid substrates (30‐kPa PGS) for three days, with or without TGF‐β1 treatment (n = 4–5). The GAPDH expression levels were served as a loading control. All data were expressed as fold change in protein expression relative to cells grown at 5‐kPa PGS without TGF‐β1 treatment. Symbols of statistical significance levels: *: p < 0.05; **: p < 0.01; ***: p < 0.001; ns: not statistically significant (ie, p > 0.05). Data are represented in means ± SDs