Figure 2. Functional and morphological analyses of integrin DTg mice.

(A) Expression of integrins in Tg mice. Western blot shows mature β1D integrin expression (top band) was increased 3 fold in both the α5β1D and α7β1D DTg mice. In contrast, β1D precursor (immature, bottom band) was decreased compared with β1D single Tg mice. Integrin β1D expression was increased 2 fold in Tg mice with only α subunit OE. When β1D integrin expression was increased in Tg hearts, no significant change in α subunit expression level was detected. *P < 0.05 vs. control. (B) Immunofluorescent microscopy shows increased expression of integrins on the sarcolemmal membrane in α5β1D and α7β1D DTg hearts. Scale bar: 100 μm. (C) Western blot analyses of integrin-related signaling molecules were performed using lysates extracted from intact hearts. There were no significant differences between control or Tg groups.