Fig. 5: N-cadherin is crucial for scar formation in vivo.

N-cadherin was locally knockout around wounds on Ncad^fl/lfl mice by injection of Cre-expressing AAV6-Cre-GFP virus. AAV6-GFP virus served as control. a Immunolabelling of N-cadherin on transverse cross-sections of harvested scars on 14-dpi. GFP indicates transduced cells. Dash lines outline the scar edges. b N-cadherin expression in GFP⁺ cells based on immunofluorescence analysis. Data are normalised on the mean of N-cadherin expression in AAV6-GFP wounds. Mean ± SD, n = 5, p = 0.0003, unpaired two-tailed t-test. c Stereomicroscopic images of AAV6-Cre-GFP and AAV6-GFP treated scars at 14-dpi. The yellow dash lines indicate the scar edge. d Quantification of scar area based on histomorphometric analysis. Mean ± SD, n = 8, p = 0.0002, unpaired two-tailed t-test. e Masson’s trichrome stained vertical (upper panel) and transverse (lower panel) sections from AAV6-Cre-GFP and AAV6-GFP treated scars. The dash lines indicate scar width. f Quantification of scar width based on histomorphometric analysis. Mean ± SD, n = 5, p = 0.001, unpaired two-tailed t-test. g Fractal dimension and lacunarity analysis of AAV6-Cre-GFP and AAV6-GFP treated scars and adjacent normal skin. Mean ± SD, one-way ANOVA Tukey’s test, n = 8, p values from multiple comparisons are shown in the graph. Scale bars: a, d = 200 µm; b = 500 µm.