Figure 3. High glucose levels and CS exposure activated EMT in AECs. (A) Immunohistochemical results and positive ratios of Zo1 and vimentin in control, COPD, diabetic and COPD diabetic rats. (B–E) AECs were treated with 25 mM glucose, 1% CSE or both for 24 hours. Western blots of Zo1 and vimentin in BEAS-2B (B) and HSAEpiC (C) cells. qRT-PCR analyses of Zo1 and vimentin in BEAS-2B (D) and HSAEpiC (E) cells. * p<0.05, ** p<0.01 compared with the control group.