Figure 2
From: Biomechanics of TGFβ-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition: implications for fibrosis and cancer
Cell shape regulates epithelial-myofibroblast transition. (A) Immunofluorescence staining and quantification of TGFβ-induced αSMA expression for mouse mammary epithelial cells cultured on 400 μm2 and 2500 μm2 fibronectin islands. The percentage of cells expressing αSMA following a 48 hour treatment with TGFβ or control vehicle was determined by immunofluorescence staining and microscopy. Cells with fluorescence intensities above background levels were scored as expressing αSMA. (B) Immunofluorescence staining for MRTFA in TGFβ-treated NMuMG cells shows increased nuclear localization of MRTFA when cells are permitted to spread (2500 μm2) in comparison to when cell spreading is blocked (400 μm2). MRTFA localization was determined by comparing the mean nuclear and cytoplasmic fluorescence intensities within cells. Dashed lines represent the perimeter of the cell. Scale bars, 20 μm. Reported values are the mean of three independent experiments ± standard error of the mean. *p < 0.05. (C) Proposed model demonstrating how cell spreading affects MRTFA subcellular localization and myofibroblast development. Adapted from O’Connor and Gomez, 2013 [104].