Journal: iScience
Article Title: Cardiomyocyte-derived HSPB1 regulates TGF-β1 maturation and inhibits endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in myocardial fibrosis
doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115028
Figure Lengend Snippet: Effects of HSPB1 on signaling pathways and TGF-β secretion in HUVECs under hypoxic conditions (A and B) HUVECs were transfected with adenoviral vectors for HSPB1 overexpression (OE) or knockdown (KD) and cultured for 48 h before RNA extraction. Gene expression analysis was performed using RNA sequencing. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) assessed the regulatory roles of HSPB1 in processes such as heart development, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation (A). Further analysis using Hallmark gene sets explored HSPB1 signaling pathway activation (B). (C–G) Following transfection, HUVECs were cultured for 24 h and subjected to hypoxic conditions (3% O 2 ) for 48 h. Western blot analysis of the indicated proteins was performed. (D) pSmad2/3/Smad2/3 ratio, (E) quantification of CD31 protein expression, (F) quantification of E-cadherin expression, (G) quantification of α-SMA expression, and (H) quantification of N-cadherin expression were measured relative to β-actin. (I) TGF-β levels were measured by ELISA in cell supernatants. Data are presented as mean ± SD ( n ≥ 6). Exact p values are indicated in the graphs. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA followed by a Bonferroni post hoc test.
Article Snippet: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) , ATCC , Primary cells, pooled donors.
Techniques: Protein-Protein interactions, Transfection, Over Expression, Knockdown, Cell Culture, RNA Extraction, Gene Expression, RNA Sequencing, Activation Assay, Western Blot, Expressing, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay