Cyclic stretch results in decreased expression of P-p38MAPK, α-SMA and TGF-β1.

<p>Western blotting was performed to assess changes in the expression levels of (A) P-p38MAPK, (B) α-SMA and (C) TGF-β1 and after 0 h, 6 h or 12 h cyclic stretch (loading). The role of p38MAPK was also assessed by the same cyclic stretch administration after pretreatment with the p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 (SB203580). A representative image for each experiment is shown, with means +/− SD of three independent experiments graphed below each set of images. The expression of all three proteins were significantly induced by cyclic stretch and suppressed by SB203580. The levels of α-SMA, TGF-β1 and P- p38MAPK and β-actin in fibroblasts were quantified by densitometry analysis using Quantity One software. The expression of each protein band was standardized to β-actin expression, and means and SD of the ratios in triplicate experiments were calculated using SPSS 17.0 software. ^&, p<0.05 vs. the corresponding time 0 in the loading group; *, p<0.05 for loading vs. SB203580 (for 6 h and 12 h timepoints only). A full set of each of the three replicates of this experiment are provided in Figure S1, and a complete set of data are provided in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0075635#pone.0075635.s001" target="_blank">Tables S1</a>, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0075635#pone.0075635.s002" target="_blank">S2</a>, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0075635#pone.0075635.s003" target="_blank">S3</a>.