Gremlin Activates the Smad Pathway Linked to Epithelial Mesenchymal Transdifferentiation in Cultured Tubular Epithelial Cells
Figure 3
Gremlin overexpression causes a sustained Smad activation in cultured human tubuloepithelial cells. HK2 cells were transiently transfected with a Gremlin expression vector (GREM-GFP; green) or empty vector for 24 hours. The levels and localization of R-Smad 3 (a) and R-Smad 2 (b) were evaluated by confocal microscopy with Alexa-633 secondary IgG (red). Nuclei were stained using 4′,6-diamino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI; blue). In Gremlin-transfected cells (green staining by GFP), the Smad 2 and Smad 3 were found in the nuclei (white staining in the merge). Figures show representative images out of 3 independent observations.
