Fig. 5

Upregulated DUSP1 in human CFs. a The expression level of DUSP1 protein in different experimental groups was determined by a western blot assay. β-actin was used as a loading control. b The OD₅₉₅ values of human CFs cultures in different experimental groups were determined by an MTT assay. c, d The results of an apoptosis assay in different experimental groups. e, f The α-SMA expression of CFs was detected by a double-label immunofluorescence-staining technique. Red fluorescent cells indicate that α-SMA was expressed in CFs, Scale bar = 50 μm. The data are presented as the mean ± SEM (n = 3). *p < 0.01, **p < 0.01 (compared with the OC group), ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01 (compared with the HG Control group), ^&p < 0.05, (compared with the DUSP1 group)