Fig. 7: Increased Hedgehog signalling in the endothelium results in scarring and increased endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in skin wounds.

a Schematic diagram demonstrating experimental set up using conditional vascular specific Ptch1^eKO knockout mice (Ptch1^fl/fl/Cdh5-Cre^ER RosaYFP – Ptch1^eKO). b Photo images and scar surface assessment showing increase scar area at day 28 (D28) post wounding between wild-type controls (Ptch1^eWT) and Ptch1^eKO (**p < 0.01 vs Ptch1^eWT; n = 8 biologically independent animals; mean ± SD; p value was calculated by two-tailed unpaired t test). c Quantification of skin wound sections at day 7 (D7) with endothelial markers CD31 and YFP and EndMT markers SLUG and αSMA. High magnification representative images show YFP + (green) nuclei co-expressing αSMA (purple) and CD31 (red) marked by white arrow. Additionally, YFP + nuclei exhibit nuclear expression of SLUG (yellow arrow) (**p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 vs Ptch1^eWT; n = 8 biologically independent animals; mean ± SD; p value was calculated by two-tailed unpaired t test).