Activation of MAPK signaling pathway is influenced by the interaction of LSMCs with ECM.

<p>(A & B) LSMCs were cultured on plastic, monomeric or fibrillar collagen-coated dishes and then treated with 10 ng/ml PDGF for various time points. Lysates were blotted for (A) pERK1/2 and ERK1/2, and (B) pPDGFR and PDGFR. Densitometry values were normalized to total protein expression for each phosphorylated protein. (C) LSMCs cultured on plastic dishes were pre-treated with 10 µM of AG1296 or 25 µM of PD98059 in serum-free medium for two hours followed by treatment with 10 ng/ml PDGF for 10 minutes. Lysates were blotted for pERK1/2 and ERK1/2 Statistical significance within each matrix and compared to non-treated sample is indicated by asterisks. Letters indicate statistical differences across all samples on different matrices (n =3, p<0.05).