Figure 3. Uptake of apelin-conjugated liposomes via APJ.

Fluorescence microscopic images of NIH3T3-APJ-EGFP incubated with control- (left) or apelin14-liposomes (right three lines). Competition analysis using free liposomes and apelin14-liposomes (right two lines). Free apelin was added at a molar ratio of 1∶1 or 1∶10 (apelin14-liposomes∶free apelin). Arrows in the second and third lines indicate examples showing merged APJ with rhodamine encapsulated in liposomes. Arrow heads in the third and fourth lines indicate internalized APJ but are not merged with rhodamine. Bars indicate 50 µm.