Endotoxin Induces Fibrosis in Vascular Endothelial Cells through a Mechanism Dependent on Transient Receptor Protein Melastatin 7 Activity
Figure 5
Cellular distribution of ECM proteins involved in endotoxin-induced endothelial fibrosis.
Representative images from experiments of vehicle-treated (A–H) or endotoxin (20 μg/mL LPS)-treated (I–P) ECs for 72 h. Endothelial markers CD31 or VE-cadherin (red), and the ECM protein FN (green) were detected. In vehicle-treated cells: the box depicted in (A, C, E, and G) indicates the magnification shown in (B, D, F, and H), respectively. Arrows indicate CD31 (B, F) or VE-cadherin (D, H) labeling at the plasma membrane, whereas arrowheads indicate FN (B, D, F, and H) staining, indicating basal expression of fibrotic markers (B, D). In endotoxin-treated cells: the box depicted in (I, K, M, and O), indicates the magnification shown in (J, L, N, and P) respectively. Arrows indicate FN (J, L, N, and P), whereas arrowheads indicate CD31 (J, N) or VE-cadherin (L, P) staining from residual endothelial marker expression indicating EndMT. Nuclei were stained using DAPI. Bar scale represents 10 μm.