Effect of transgelin-specific shRNA on basal and TGF-β1 mediated induction of transgelin mRNA- and protein-expression in lung epithelial cells.

<p>Transgelin was down-regulated by transgelin-specific shRNA (right side; “transgelin shRNA”) compared with control cells, which were expressing non-specific shRNA (left side; “scrambled shRNA”). A549 cells were then cultured in serum reduced medium (0.2% FCS) for 24 h before treatment with TGF-β1. Total RNA and protein was isolated after incubation with TGF-β1 in different concentrations. Transgelin mRNA and protein levels were detected by real time-PCR (after 24 h) (A) or by Western blot analysis (after 48 h) (B), respectively. Means±SD of at least n = 3 independent experiments are shown. In B, a representative immunoblot of at least three independent experiments is shown. * p<0.05 compared to control cells, #<0.05 compared to “scrambled shRNA”.