Progesterone inhibits transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression in lung epithelial cells.

<p>A549 cells were incubated with TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL) and progesterone (10 μg/mL). qPCR of <i>CTGF</i> mRNA was performed after 12 h (<b>A</b>) and western blotting analysis after 24 h (<b>B</b>). Relative mRNA levels of <i>CTGF</i> were calculated by normalizing signals to detected <i>GAPDH</i> mRNA. Differences compared with untreated cells were calculated. Means + SD of at least n = 3 independent experiments are shown. In <b>B</b>, a representative immunoblot of CTGF and β-actin of n = 3 independent experiments is shown. ** p < 0.01 compared with control cells; ## p < 0.01 compared with cells treated with TGF-β1.