Figure 2.

Transforming growth factor β induces collagen lattice contraction independent of β-catenin. A Means and 95% confidence intervals for collagen lattice mean diameter as observed over seven days for fibroblasts from mice expressing null β-catenin alleles or wild type littermates treated with the adenovirus expressing cre recombinase also treated with transforming growth factor β, or the carrier. There is a statistically significant difference between transforming growth factor β and carrier treatment for time points identified with an asterisk above the point, but no statistically significant difference between fibroblasts in which the β-catenin null allele was activated compared to treatment with transforming growth factor. Data is shown in the absence of serum. B. Representative photographs of the collagen lattices at day seven.