Cathepsin B Regulates Collagen Expression by Fibroblasts via Prolonging TLR2/NF-κB Activation

Figure 2

The effects of CatB on the expression of collagens III and IV by BJ fibroblasts after challenge with P.g. LPS. (a) The effect of CA-074Me (50 μM, 1 h before P.g. LPS challenge) on the expression of collagen III at 48 h after challenge with P.g. LPS (1 μg/mL). (b) The effect of CA-074Me on the expression of collagen IV at 48 h after challenge with P.g. LPS (1 μg/mL). Each column and bar represent the mean ± SEM ( each). The asterisks indicate a statistically significant difference from the value in untreated cells (, ). The crosses indicate a statistically significant difference from the value in P.g. LPS-challenged cells without pretreatment with CA-074Me (). (c) The effect of CA-074Me on the protein expression of collagen III and collagen IV at 48 h after challenge with P.g. LPS (1 μg/mL). ((d), (e)) The quantitative analyses of the immunoblotting for collagen III (d) and collagen IV (e). Each column and bar represent the mean ± SEM ( each). The asterisks indicate a statistically significant difference from the value in untreated cells (). The crosses indicate a statistically significant difference from the value in P.g. LPS-challenged cells without pretreatment with CA-074Me (, ). (f) The expression of collagen III in the primary fibroblasts from wild type and CatB^−/− mice at 24 and 48 h after challenge with P.g. LPS (1 μg/mL). (g) The expression of collagen IV in the primary fibroblasts from wild type and CatB^−/− mice at 24 and 48 h after challenge with P.g. LPS (1 μg/mL). Each column and bar represent the mean ± SEM ( each). The asterisks indicate a statistically significant difference from the value in unchallenged cells from wild type mice (, ). The crosses indicate a statistically significant difference from the value in the unchallenged cells from CatB^−/− mice ().

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)