Fig. 4

Downregulation of FOXF2 inhibits collagen aggregation, cell proliferation and β-catenin expression in TGF-β1-treated HESCs ex vivo. a Relative FOXF2 mRNA expression after si-FOXF2 transfection of primary HESCs. Measurement data are presented as the means ± SEM, n = 3; ***P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA. b Relative expression of mRNAs in primary HESCs transfected with si-FOXF2 before and after TGF-β1 treatment. Data are expressed as the means ± SEM, n = 3; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA. c Protein expression in primary HESCs transfected with si-FOXF2 before and after TGF-β1 treatment. d The protein relationship between TGF-β1 and β-catenin was forecasted using STRING tools. e EdU assay showing changes in the proliferation of primary HESCs transfected with si-FOXF2 before and after TGF-β1 treatment. f CCK8 assay showing the proliferation rate of primary HESCs transfected with si-FOXF2 before and after TGF-β1 treatment. Measurement data are expressed as the means ± SEM, n = 3; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, one-way ANOVA. g IF showing the protein expression levels of α-SMA and COLIA1 in primary HESCs transfected with si-FOXF2 before and after TGF-β1 treatment. h Flow cytometry analysis showing changes in the cell cycle of primary HESCs transfected with si-FOXF2 before and after TGF-β1 treatment