Fibrillar Type I Collagen Enhances the Differentiation and Proliferation of Myofibroblasts by Lowering α2β1 Integrin Expression in Cardiac Fibrosis

Figure 1

FC promoted the differentiation and proliferation of myofibroblasts. (a) Image of cell morphology on TC (left panel) and FC (right panel); (b) analysis of α-SMA expression in fibroblasts by Western blot (top) and immunofluorescence (bottom) at day 4 on TC or on FC. GAPDH was used as a protein loading control. The nucleuses were counterstained with DAPI (blue). ((c) and (d)) α-SMA expression in myocardial fibroblasts in response to FC, OA, and TGF β1 by Western blots. The number is the ratio of indicated protein/GAPDH according to densitometry assay. (e) The proliferation assay of fibroblasts in TC versus FC (). (f) Cell migration (impedance) was measured by ECIS in a time manner (left panel) and its different peaks of TC versus FC (right panel; ) at 8.15 hrs. microns.

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