Fig. 8

pEPCs reduced pericyte–myofibroblast transition via a paracrine effect in vitro. a Pericytes were co-cultured with pEPCs in transwell chambers. Then, 10 ng/ml TGF-β was used to stimulate pericyte transition into myofibroblasts. In the pericyte and pericytes+TGF-β groups, pEPCs were replaced with EBM-2 culture medium. b–d TGF-β increased the mRNA expression of α-SMA, PDGFR-β and fibronectin, while co-culture with pEPCs attenuated the effect of TGF-β on pericytes. e, f Western blotting showed similar changes in protein levels representative of pericyte–myofibroblast transition when pericytes were co-cultured with pEPCs. The data are presented as the mean ± SD; n = 3/group. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.005; ***p < 0.001