Figure 2.

Effects of Smad7 gene introduction on expression of type-I collagen by cultured SCFs. Real-time RT-PCR (A) or an ELISA (B) showwd an increment of expression of mRNA or protein of type-I collagen in the presence of exogenous TGFβ1 and its reversal by Smad7 gene introduction. The asterisk indicates a p<0.01. C: Immunoreactivity for type-I collagen was detected in the majority of cells in control cultures (negative for both TGFβ1 and Smad7) and more intense reactivity was seen in the cells treated with TGFβ1 only (TGFβ1 positive, Smad7 negative). Smad7 gene introduction decreased immunoreactivity for type-I collagen in the cells in the absence (TGFβ1 negative, Smad7 positive) and presence (TGFβ1 positive, Smad7 positive) of TGFβ1. The scale bar represents 10 μm.