Fig. 4: Poly(CEP) at 1 wt% impairs EMT to inhibit membrane formation. | Nature Communications

Fig. 4: Poly(CEP) at 1 wt% impairs EMT to inhibit membrane formation.

From: A bio-functional polymer that prevents retinal scarring through modulation of NRF2 signalling pathway

Fig. 4

a RPE cells treated with TNT with or without poly(CEP) for 72 h were immunostained with RPE-specific transcription factor: OTX2, and cell junctional complex proteins: TJP1 (ZO-1) and CDH1 (E-Cadherin). Mislocalisation of CDH1, TJP1, and reduction of OTX2 observed in the presence of TNT, was partially reversed for TJP1 in the presence of 1 wt% poly(CEP). b Immunostaining with EMT transcription factor (TF): SNAI1 (Snail), and ECM proteins: COL1A1 and FN1 (Fibronectin) showed upregulation with TNT. 1 wt% poly(CEP) + TNT protected the cells against this upregulation. Nuclei was stained blue with Hoechst stain. Scale bar for a, b, 20 µm. A representative image is shown for a, b from three independent experiments conducted. c EMT TFs (Foxs1, Snai1, and Snai2) and key downstream mesenchymal genes (Col1a1, Fn1, and Cdh2) were quantified by quantitative PCR (qPCR). TNT induced upregulation of EMT TF was inhibited in the presence of 1 wt% poly(CEP). Data represents mean ± s.d. of three replicates for RT-qPCR. Statistical analysis was calculated using one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s honest significance difference (HSD) post hoc test. ns, not significant.

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