Figure 5: TCF3 causes dedifferentiation of rat NCMs.
From: Proteolysis regulates cardiomyocyte maturation and tissue integration
(a) Rat NCMs transfected with control, E12 or E47 adenovirus vectors, stained for sarcomeric-α-actinin (red). Magnified views in white dotted boxes are shown on the right. Number of cardiomyocytes transfected with adenovirus vectors exhibiting sarcomere disassembly (n=2, with averages taken from 50 cardiomyocytes). (b) Rat NCMs transfected with control, E12 or E47 adenovirus vector, co-stained for α-actinin (red), N-cadherin (magenta) and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI; blue). Cardiomyocytes expressing E12 and E47 exhibit disruptions of cell–cell junction (arrowheads). (c) Rat NCMs transfected with control, E12 or E47 adenovirus vector, co-stained for cardiac troponin I (cTnI, red), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA, magenta) and DAPI (blue). Number of cardiomyocytes transfected with adenovirus vectors exhibiting both cTnI and α-SMA expression (n=2, with averages taken from 50 cells). *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s honest significant difference test. Error bars, s.e.m. Scale bars, 20 μm.
