Figure 4

Carbachol induces EMT-related changes in 16HBE cells. Cells were stimulated with TGF-β1 (5 ng/mL) or carbachol (0.1–10 μM) for 72 h (A) or with the addition of pirenzepine (10 μM), methoctramine (10 μM), or 4-DAMP (1 μM), which was administered 1 h before carbachol (1 μM) for 72 h (B). Cell lysates were assayed for EMT markers and GAPDH. Representative western blots of E-cadherin, MMP-9, α-SMA, and GAPDH are shown. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM of six independent experiments after densitometric analysis. ^# p < 0.05, ^## p < 0.01 vs. control; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs. carbachol.