Figure 9

Cx43 inhibits high glucose-induced expression of FN, ICAM-1, and TGF-β1. (A) GMCs were transfected with GFP-Cx43 or Flag-Cx43CT in normal glucose (NG; 5.5 mmol/L). After 48 h of transfection, GMCs were exposed to high glucose (HG; 30 mmol/L) for 24 h. Proteins were extracted for analysis of FN, ICAM-1, and TGF-β1 by immunoblotting. (B) GMCs were transfected with Cx43-siRNA in normal glucose. After 24 h, cells were then transfected with GFP-Cx43 to restore Cx43 expression. Proteins were extracted for analysis of FN, ICAM-1, and TGF-β1 by immunoblotting. The high glucose-treated group was used as the control. (C) Immunofluorescence images stained doubly with anti-Cx43 antibody and anti-FN antibody were captured under a laser scanning confocal microscope (magnification 630×). Green fluorescence indicates Cx43. Red fluorescence indicates FN. Blue fluorescence indicates nuclei. Scale bar represents 20 μm. Experiments were performed at least three times with similar results. ^*P<0.05 vs. normal glucose-treated group, ^#P<0.05 vs. 30 mmol/L glucose-treated group.