Figure 7: cGata5 and Wt1 contribute specifically to PDGFRα⁺/CD31⁻ cells.

(a) Flow cytometry illustrating the four-way strategy to dissect fate mapping in cardiac Lin⁻/Sca1⁺ cells by SP staining plus PDGFRα and CD31. Representative results are shown at the right for strong induction of tdTom in all four populations by antecedent expression of Nkx2-5-Cre. (b) Precursors expressing cGata5 and Wt1 give rise to the PDGFRα⁺/CD31⁻ cells. Little or no difference was seen between SP and non-SP cells having the same PDGFRα/CD31 phenotype. Data are the mean±s.e.m. for tdTom induction by each Cre line in the four populations; n=2–7 excepting n =1 for Tie2-Cre; *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001. (c) Schematic representation of the origin of cardiac Sca1⁺ cells. The developmental stages and transitions shown are detailed in the text.