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. 2013 Sep 30;8(9):e76210. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076210

Figure 2. Inhibition of β-catenin signaling attenuates chondrogenic transformation of cultured VSMCs.

Figure 2

Rat A10 VSMCs stably-expressing a β-catenin-responsive luciferase transgene were induced to undergo chondrogenesis in high-density micromass culture in chondrogenic medium (ChoM) containing TGF-β3. A, VSMCs form cartilaginous GAG-positive nodules as detected by Alcian blue stain, in ChoM (- Querc). In the presence of 50 µmol/L Quercetin (ChoM + Querc) both the number and size of the nodules is reduced. B-E, Expression of β-catenin-dependent luciferase reporter (B,D) and deposition of GAG-rich matrix, quantified by extraction of Alcian blue stain normalized to cell number (C,E), in VSMCs cultured in ChoM in the presence or absence of quercetin (B,C) or the β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitor Dkk1 (D,E). N=4.