Fig. 1
Profibrotic response of TGF-β1-stimulated HBFs remains unchanged in ALI medium. HBFs derived from asthmatic patients and non-asthmatic donors were cultured in HG medium or ALI medium in the absence (CTRL) or presence of TGF-β1 (5 ng/ml) for 4 days. Then, the FMT potential of HBFs was determined by a immunofluorescence (Bar = 50 μm), b-c in-cell ELISA test (each condition in triplicates) and d RT-qPCR. Expression of selected FMT-related genes: ACTA2 (α-smooth muscle actin), TAGLN (transgelin), FN1 (fibronectin) and TNC (tenascin C) was calculated using GAPDH as a reference gene and presented as 2-ΔΔCt value. Data from all experiments represent the mean ± SEM carried out on HBFs AS (n = 4) and NA (n = 4). Statistical significance was tested using the Kruskall-Wallis with Dunn’s Multiple Comparison post hoc test (the comparison in one group). Statistical significance between tested groups (HBFs AS vs HBFs NA) was performed using the non-parametric Friedmann with Dunn’s Multiple Comparison post hoc test; * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001