Figure 3

Acquisition of a more epithelial phenotype by inhibition of STAT1 expression in IL-27 treated cells. (A) A549 cells were transfected with a non-targeting control or STAT1 siRNAs (40 nM) for 6 hours prior to IL-27 (50 ng/mL) exposure for 15 or 30 minutes. Activated and total amounts of STAT1 and STAT3 proteins were detected by Western blot. GAPDH was used as a loading control. (B) Stattic (7.5 nM) or its diluent (DMSO) was added to A549 cells for 1 hour prior to IL-27 (50 ng/mL) exposure for 15 or 30 minutes. Activated and total amounts of STAT1 and STAT3 proteins were detected by Western blot. (C) After transfection with STAT1 siRNA (40 nM) for 6 hours or Stattic (7.5 nM) pre-treatment for 1 hour, A549 cells were exposed to IL-27 (50 ng/mL) for 24 hours. Morphologic changes were documented and photographed by phase contrast microscopy (50 × magnification). Scale bar, 100 μm.