Fig. 3

Evaluation of MMP-9 activity. a MMP-9 activity in response to TGF-β was examined using gelatin zymography. Relative activity was compared to control (without TGF-β treatment). b CD31, VE-cadherin, and α-SMA expression in HKGECs treated with TGF-β1 (10 ng/ml) and various dosages of the MMP-9 inhibitor (0.05, 0.25, and 0.5 nmol/ml) were evaluated using western blot analysis. β-actin was used as a loading control. c MMP-9 activity was determined using gelatin zymography. Relative activity was compared to control (without TGF-β1 treatment). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM with n ≥ 3 for each experimental group, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001