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. 2009 Apr 29;4(4):e5388. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005388

Figure 1. Oscillatory fluid flow induces β-catenin nuclear translocation and initiation of TCF/LEF associated gene transcription.

Figure 1

(A) Immuno-staining of control and cells exposed to oscillatory fluid flow illustrate that 35 minutes of mechanical stimulation results in an increase in β-catenin localization to the nucleus. (B) To validate β-catenin translocation with flow, nuclear protein was isolated and western blot analysis was used to demonstrate that there is a 3.5±0.9-fold (p<0.05) increase in nuclear β-catenin in mechanically stimulated cells versus control. (C) To determine β-catenin/TCF/LEF transcription, TOPflash transfected mouse L cells were exposed to 35 minutes of oscillatory fluid flow. A dual light luciferase assay was used to determine that mechanical stimulation induced a 2.0±0.4-fold increase (p<0.05) in luciferase activity indicating an increase in β-catenin/TCF/LEF transcription. Scale bar = 100 µm. (Error bars: SEM (n≥4)).