FIGURE 1.

Expression of V3 by ASMCs enhances elastogenesis. A and B, total RNA was obtained from control or V3-expressing ASMCs, followed by qPCR as described under “Materials and Methods.” Tropoelastin (A) and fibulin 5 (B) mRNA levels were determined in samples obtained from four independent transductions of empty vector (LXSN) control and V3 vector (LV3SN)-transduced ASMC lines cultured for 2 weeks. #, p < 0.05 in Student's t test. C and D, elastic fiber accumulation in control LXSN (C) or V3-generated ECM (D) after 3 weeks of culture was examined by immunostaining against tropoelastin (red). Cell nuclei staining is shown in blue. Immunofluorescence images are representative of three independent experiments. Error bars, S.E.