Fig. 5

GLI2 silencing leads to a reduction in HOTAIR-mediated fibroblast activation. RNA and protein were extracted from scramble and HOTAIR-expressing fibroblasts. In addition, the scramble and HOTAIR-expressing fibroblasts were transfected with siRNA specific for GLI2. A scramble control siRNA was transfected into the other cell conditions. a α-SMA and GLI2 protein levels were assessed by western blot. β-actin was used as a loading control. α-SMA (b), COL1A1 (c), COL1A2 (d) and CTGF (e) transcript levels were assessed by qPCR. Graphs represent the mean and standard error for three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001