AICAR inhibits transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced fibroblast-myofibroblast transformation.

<p>Cultured rat fibroblasts, NRK-49F cells were pre-incubated in the presence or absence of AICAR (0.05 mM–0.5 mM) for 30 mins. Then, these cells were stimulated with TGF-β1 (1 ng/mL) for 24 h before harvesting. The culture supernatant was subject to immunoblot analysis with antibodies against collagen I, collagen IV (A). The cell lysate was also subject to immunoblot analysis with antibodies against collagen I (B), collagen IV (C), α-SMA (D) and tubulin. Representative immunoblots from three independent experiments are shown. Each bar represents the mean ± S.E. of three independent experiments. *<i>P</i><0.05 versus the TGF-β1 group. C: control, T: TGF-β1, A: AICAR.