Fig. 7: Inducible ablation delineates the role of cd34+ cells in cardiac fibrosis.
a Schematic showing CD34-CreERT2;Rosa26-tdTomato/DTA&ApoE-/- mice. The experimental scheme in which Cre/DTA mice were given tamoxifen for 1 week before sham or AngII surgery. Heart tissue was harvested 4 weeks after surgery. b Representative echocardiography of CD34-CreERT2;Rosa26-tdTomato (control) and CD34-CreERT2;Rosa26-tdTomato/DTA (Cre/DTA) mice at 4 weeks after surgery. c Echocardiographic measurements of the left ventricle ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) in the control group and Cre/DTA group 4 weeks after surgery. The data are presented as the mean ± SEM; n = 8 for the Cre/DTA group. P < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. d ELISA detection of serum ANP and BNP in the control group and Cre/DTA group at 4 weeks after surgery. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM, n = 10. P < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. e Representative immunostaining images showing tdTomato, Postn and Fabp4 staining in the control group and Cre/DTA group. Scale bars, 50 μm and 20 μm in magnified images. f Representative immunostaining images showing the tdTomato, DDR2, and Fabp4 staining in the two groups. Scale bars, 50 μm and 20 μm in magnified images. Total triglyceride (TG) levels in mouse heart tissue were measured. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM, n = 9. P < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. g Measurement of total triglycerides (TG) in mouse heart tissue, Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 9. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. h Correlation analysis of CD34-derived Fabp4+ fibroblasts and triglycerides (TG) levels. i Correlation analysis of triglycerides (TG) and the left ventricle ejection fraction (EF).
