Fig. 1

Loss of CEBPA in normal lung fibroblasts enhanced ECM deposition. a) qRT-PCR analysis showing CEBPA expression in IPF-derived fibroblasts (N = 8) and healthy fibroblasts (N = 8). b) Western blotting analysis showing CEBPA protein expression in IPF-derived fibroblasts (N = 5) and healthy fibroblasts (N = 4). c) Western blotting analysis and d) qRT-PCR confirms the knock down of CEBPA expression. e-h) qRT-PCR analysis showing ACTA2, COL1A1, FN1 and CTGF transcript levels in CEBPA knock down normal fibroblasts and their control. i-j) ECM deposition assay shows collagen I and fibronectin production in CEBPA knockdown lung fibroblasts and their control. k) Immunostaining and l) quantification for αSMA expression in both CEBPA knockdown lung fibroblasts and control lung fibroblasts. Scale bar = 100 μm. Data are expressed as mean ± SD (*p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01)