Figure 4.

Production of IL-6 from WNT5A-activated fibroblasts could indirectly cause KCs to undergo EMT. (a) HDFs treated with WNT5A for 6, 12, 24 or 48 h produce significantly increased level of IL-6. (b) Western blot analysis of KCs treated with IL-6 for 24 h confirms increased expression of p-STAT3, STAT3, N-cadherin and slug and decreased expression of E-cadherin. (c) Treatment of KCs with IL-6 decreases mRNA levels of E-cadherin and increases those of N-cadherin and vimentin after 24 h. Data are from three independent experiments. ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01, ^***p < 0.005; Mann–Whitney U test. EMT Epithelial–mesenchymal transition, IL interleukin, KF keloid fibroblasts, HDF human dermal fibroblasts, KC keratinocytes