Fig. 2

Myofibroblast differentiation was inhibited by the reduction of sialylation with BGN. a, b Cell surface glycans in control (Ctr; vehicle-treated EP fibroblasts in DMSO) and GalNAc-α-O-benzyl (BGN; 2 mM)-treated EP fibroblasts were analyzed by FACS using lectins. Three independent experiments were performed and representative results are shown (a). Controls are presented in gray. Mean fluorescent intensities (MFIs) relative to those of control cells are shown (b). Results are presented as means ± SD from three independent experiments. c Immunocytochemical staining was performed in control and BGN (2 mM)-treated EP fibroblasts 3 days after myofibroblast differentiation. Representative images are shown (α-SMA, green; DAPI, blue). d, e Western blot analysis of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was performed 3 days after myofibroblast differentiation in control and BGN (2 mM)-treated EP fibroblasts. The histogram (e) shows the mean densitometric analysis ± SD of α-SMA normalized to the loading control (β-actin). The values were obtained from three independent experiments. TGF transforming growth factor