α11β1 integrin is required for the induction of EMT by the FBG domain of TNX. (A) Immunoblot analysis of phospho-Smad2 (P-Smad2), total Smad2/3, and the α11 integrin chain in HT-1080 cells transiently expressing, or not expressing (MOCK), α11 integrin subunit and seeded for 3 h onto uncoated (−) or 222 pmol/cm² FBG-coated (+) dishes. (B) Luciferase activity of BL41-(CAGA)₉-Luc reporter cells transiently cotransfected or not transfected (MOCK) with plasmids encoding α11 or β1 integrin chain and cultured for 24 h on coated FBG domain (222 pmol/cm²) or treated with 2 ng/ml TGF-β. Significant (*, P < 0.05) or nonsignificant (ns) difference versus the mock counterpart is indicated for each condition. Error bars are means + SD. N-C, not coated. (C) Direct fluorescence actin staining in MCF10A cells transiently transfected with a scrambled or an ITGA11-targeting shRNA and incubated for 48 h on either a noncoated or 222 pmol/cm² FBG-coated coverslips. Bars, 10 µm. (D) Model of TGF-β activation by the FBG domain of TNX.