Fig. 3

a Western blot analyses (left) and the relative densitometric values (right) of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen type I (Col I) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). Densitometric data are representative of three technical replicates and are expressed as mean ± SD. The values of protein synthesis obtained for each treatment (bosentan [BOS] and macitentan [MAC]) were normalized to that of the untreated cells (CTR), taken as unit value by definition. Analysis of variance and Tukey’s multiple-comparisons test were performed in each group (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01). b Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses for α-SMA (top), Col I (middle), and TGF-β (bottom) confirm results obtained by Western blot analysis. The results are expressed as median (range) of six biological replicates (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01). mRNA Messenger RNA; EndoMT Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition