Figure 4. Immunocytochemistry of αSMA in LX-2 cells.

LX-2 cells grown for 72h under (A) normal cell culture conditions or treated with (B) TGF-β alone display an activated myofibroblast phenotype with cells staining positively for αSMA stress fibres (red). Cells, in (C) direct contact with S. japonicum eggs, (D) separated from the eggs by inserts, or (E) co-treated with eggs + TGF-β leads to the cells losing positive staining for αSMA. Cell nuclei are stained blue by DAPI. Scale bars are 50µm.