Figure 4. Importance of trans-adhesive interaction via CD44ECD between xanthoblasts and metaphocytes in airineme extension.

(A) S2 cells were transfected with constructs to express actin-mCherry (control), wild-type cd44a-mCherry, or cd44aTMICD-mCherry. Within 1 hour of rotary culture, cell aggregates were formed by those expressing the wild-type cd44a (white arrowheads). (B) Quantification of the transfected cells found within clusters relative to the total numbers of transfected cells in 3 replicate cultures, (F(₂, ₆)=45.50, P=0.0002). (C) Overexpressing cd44aTMICD in both xanthophore lineages and macrophages resulted in a significant reduction in airineme extension frequency. (D) The graph combines data from Fig. 3B and 4C to illustrate the statistical significant between cd44aTMICD overexpression in either of cell type and both simultaneously, (F(₂, ₁₇)=18.04, P<0.0001). Statistically significant results were evaluated using a One-way ANOVA, followed by a Tukey’s HSD post hoc test or a Student’s t test. Scale bars: 20μm. Error bars indicate mean ± SEM.