Epithelial cells inhibit TGF-β induced α-SMA protein expression in fibroblasts irrespective of their tissue origin.

<p>Multiple strains of human epithelial cells and fibroblasts were treated with or without 5ng/ml TGF-β and co-cultured for 72 hours. (A) SAECs co-cultured with Graves’ orbital fibroblasts. (B) SAECs co-cultured with keloid fibroblasts. (C) Human epidermal keratinocytes-neonatal co-cultured with HLFs. (D) A549 cells co-cultured with HLFs. α-SMA protein expression was analyzed by western blot. Each lane represents a replicate culture. Representative blots are shown from at least two independent experiments per condition.