Fig. 8

Knocking down Tpm2.1 reduces human lung fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction. Human lung fibroblasts were transfected with siRNA against Tpm2.1 or scrambled control and collagen gel contraction measured at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Tpm2.1 knockdown at 96 h was confirmed by Western blotting (compared to HSP-70 as a loading control). Results are shown as: a a representative Western blot; b densitometric analysis of Tpm2.1 protein (normalised with HSP-70 and expressed as percentage of scrambled control); (c) collagen gel size (percentage compared to 0 h). Statistical analysis was performed using (b) Student's unpaired t test and (c) two-way ANOVA then Bonferroni's multiple comparisons test (where * denotes that significantly knocking down Tpm2.1 protein represses human lung fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction (P < 0.05)). Data are mean ± SEM values from n = 6 human lung fibroblast primary cell cultures