Fig. 8

SAC attenuates EndoMT-associated cardiac fibrosis via downregulating PFKFB3. a Schematic for AAV-based endothelial-specific overexpression or knockdown of Pfkfb3 and model preparation procedure in mice. b Immunofluorescent counter-staining of PFKFB3 (Green) and CD31 (Red) in cardiac sections (white dotted line was applied to delineate the inner surface of blood vessel) from AAV-NC, AAV-Pfkfb3_(High), and AAV-Pfkfb3_(Low) mice, scale bar, 25 μm. c q-PCR analysis of Pfkfb3 mRNA level in AMCECs, AMVMs and AMCFs isolated from AAV-NC, AAV-Pfkfb3_(High), and AAV-Pfkfb3_(Low) mice. 18s RNA was used as the internal reference (n = 3). d Masson and immunofluorescent double-staining of CD31 (Red) and α-SMA (Green) of cardiac sections (white dotted line was applied to delineate the inner surface of blood vessel) from AAV-NC or AAV-Pfkfb3_(High) infected mice post sham-operation, TAC-operation, and SAC-treatment, scale bar, 50 μm (n = 6). e Masson staining and immunofluorescent double-staining of CD31 (Red) and α-SMA (Green) of cardiac sections (white dotted line was applied to delineate the inner surface of blood vessel) from AAV-NC and AAV-Pfkfb3_(Low) mice post-sham-operation, TAC-operation and SAC-treatment, scale bar, 50 μm (n = 6). Data are represented as mean ± SD. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, N.S., nonsignificant versus indicated group