Fig. 9.

DPEAAE in the fibrotic extracellular matrix of aortic banded hearts. (A, B) Representative western blot image and quantification (normalized to total protein stain, values were relative to day 1 post AB and sham operations, respectively) of DPEAAE in the 1% SDS fraction of left ventricular tissue lysate from sham operation (Control, n = 5–8) and aortic banding (AB, n = 8) at day 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 56. (C) Representative confocal images of DPEAAE and hyaluronan from Control and aortic banded hearts after 56 days with (D) replacement, (E) interstitial, and (F) perivascular fibrosis. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA, magenta) stain for the cardiomyocyte sarcolemma and extracellular matrix, DPEAAE (green), hyaluronan (red), and DAPI stain for the nuclei (blue). White arrows show deposition of DPEAAE and hyaluronan in the extracellular matrix and yellow arrows show colocalization at fibrotic regions. Scale bar = 15 μm. Relative mRNA expression of Adamts4 (G), Adamts1 (H), and Adamts5 (I) from the left ventricle of mouse hearts at day 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 56 after aortic banding (AB, n = 8–11) or sham operations (Control, n = 9–10). The values (copies/µl measured by ddPCR) are relative to the respective Control hearts at day 1. Data represent mean ± SD. Repeated measures two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s multiple comparisons test was used for statistical analysis. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. *P < 0.05 Control vs. AB, ^†P < 0.05 AB vs. day 1 post AB. (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)