Figure 3 | Scientific Reports

Figure 3

From: Extracellular matrix stiffness regulates human airway smooth muscle contraction by altering the cell-cell coupling

Figure 3

(A–C) ASM cells were stained for β-catenin (an adherens junction marker; red), Vinculin (focal adhesion marker; green), and the nucleus (DAPI; blue). Scale bar is 10 µm. (A) Healthy ECM, E = 300 Pa: ASM-cells form stable cell-cell junctions and the boundary is clearly marked by β-catenin stain. (B,C) Remodeled, stiffer ECM (E = 13 kPa–40 kPa): As the ECM stiffness increases to 13 kPa, one sees the appearance of focal adhesions near the cell-cell boundary (marked by yellow arrows). When ECM stiffness is further increased to 40 kPa, the ASM-ASM boundary (red) gives way to cell ECM focal adhesions (green).

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