Fig. 2

Increasing matrix stiffness induced fibroblast activation via ZNF416. NIH/3T3 cells were cultured on 1 or 60 kappa collagen-coated hydrogels coverslips. A Protein levels and densitometric analysis of fibrotic markers were determined by western blot, with ^**p < 0.01 vs. the 1 kappa group. B mRNA levels of fibrotic markers were determined by qRT-PCR, with ^**p < 0.01 vs. the 1 kappa group. C, D Immunofluorescence analysis of α-SMA and Collagen I in NIH/3T3 cells culture on 1 or 60 kappa collagen-coated hydrogels coverslips. α-SMA stained red, Collagen I stained green, Nuclei were stained by DAPI, scale bar = 25 μm. E qRT-PCR showed the silencing efficacy of siRNAs against ZNF416, with ^**p < 0.01 vs. the control group. F NIH/3T3 cells culture on 1 or 60 kappa collagen-coated hydrogels coverslips in the presence of ZNF416 siRNA or the control siRNA. Levels of fibrotic markers were determined by western blot