Caffeine and rolipram inhibit TGF-β1 induced CTGF expression in lung epithelial cells.

<p>A549 cells were incubated with TGF-β1 (10 ng/ml) and with or without caffeine (10 mM) or rolipram (50 µM). Real-time PCR of CTGF mRNA was performed after 12h (A+C) and Western blot analysis after 24 h (B+D). Relative mRNA levels of CTGF were calculated by normalizing signals to detected GAPDH mRNA. Differences compared to untreated cells were calculated (A+C). Means±SD of at least n = 3 independent experiments are shown. In B+D representative immunoblots of at least three independent experiments are shown. * p<0.05 compared to control cells, # p<0.05 compared to cells treated with TGF-β1.