Effect of CTGF shRNA on basal and TGF-β1 mediated induction of CTGF mRNA- and protein-expression in LEC. A.

<p>Effect on CTGF mRNA level: Four days after downregulation of CTGF by specific shRNA LEC were cultured in serum reduced medium (2% FCS) for 24 h before treatment with TGF-ß1. RNA and protein was isolated after 24 h of incubation with 10 ng/ml TGF-ß1. CTGF RNA expression, compared to β-actin as control, was detected by RT-PCR (A). <b>B.</b> Effect on CTGF protein level: CTGF and ß-actin expression on protein level was detected by western immunoblotting (B). Significant regulations of CTGF by TGF-ß1 are marked by * (p<0.05), CTGF down-regulation by CTGF specific shRNA compared to control cells are marked by # (p<0.05).