Fig. 5

Recombinant HE4 promoted fibroblast-myofibroblast transition and fibroblastic proliferation. A, B Different concentrations of rHE4 facilitated fibronectin, collagen I and α-SMA expression both in mRNA level (n = 3) and protein level (n = 4). The representative western blot images were shown and the band intensity was quantified by ImageJ. C Treatment with rHE4 in HPF cells enhanced phosphorylation of Smad2 (n = 4). D Typical images of EdU-staining HPFs followed by rHE4 treatment for 48 h and the quantitative graph were shown (n = 3). magnification = × 200. E CCK8 proliferation curve signified the pro-proliferative effect of rHE4 (n = 4). HPF was stimulated by rHE4 for 0 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. F Representative western blot images of PCNA and Survivin were displayed and quantified by ImageJ (n = 3). Data are presented as mean ± SEM. P-values were calculated using one-way ANOVA followed by Newman–Keuls test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 represent significant differences. rHE4, recombinant human epididymis protein 4; EdU, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine; CCK8, Cell Counting Kit-8; PCNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen; HPF, human pulmonary fibroblast