Research Article

Rapamycin Inhibits the Growth and Collagen Production of Fibroblasts Derived from Human Urethral Scar Tissue

Figure 4

Rapamycin decreases the mRNA expressions of Smad2, eIF-4E, and the alpha-1 chains of collagen type I and collagen type III (Col1α1 and Col3α1) in FHUS. The mRNA expressions of Smad2, eIF-4E, Col1α1, and Col3α1 were determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR using agarose gel electrophoresis, with β-actin as internal control. (a) shows representative blots illustrating the effects of various rapamycin concentrations on the mRNA expressions of Smad2, eIF-4E, Col1α1, and Col3α1. (b) contains quantified data showing the concentration-dependent effects of rapamycin on the mRNA expressions of Smad2, eIF-4E, Col1α1, and Col3α1. Data shown as mean ± standard deviation ( cell lines from four patients). versus the control group (0 ng/ml rapamycin).
(a)
(b)