Activin A Stimulates Aromatase via the ALK4-Smad Pathway in Endometriosis

Figure 2

Effects of Activin A on the Smad signaling pathway in eutopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) from patients with endometriosis. (a) ESCs were treated with 25 ng/mL Activin A for the indicated times. The cell lysates were probed with antibodies against p-Smad3, Smad3, or GAPDH. A representative Western blot of p-smad3 and smad3 in cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions. (b) Immunofluorescence localization of Smad3 protein in eutopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) from a representative patient with endometriosis. Similar results were observed in other patients with endometriosis. DAPI stains the nuclei. FITC staining for p-Smad or Smads. The right column shows merged FITC/DAPI images. Control: no Activin treatment. Activin A: the cells were treated with 25 ng/mL of Activin A for 15 minutes. The top 6 images display the p-Smad-3 expression in ESCs. The bottom 6 images display Smad-3 expression in ESCs. Bar = 5 μm.

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