Fig. 4.

Klf4 and canonical Wnt pathway are interconnected in the determination of c-Kit+ cells differentiation. Confocal imaging showing the membrane localisation of β-catenin in control cells (AdCTL) and nuclear accumulation in Klf4 overexpressing cells (AdKlf4, a). Western blot confirmed β-catenin activation by AdKlf4 (b) and inhibition by ShKlf4 (c). LiCl (β-catenin activator) induced Klf4 and EC marker expression and reduced the SMC marker expression in a concentration-dependent manner (c: vs. NaCl, dotted line). Knockdown of β-catenin (Shβcat) impaired VEGF-dependent EC differentiation and increased SMC markers (d, vs. control virus: dotted line and e). LiCl-induced increase of EC markers was inhibited by Klf4 knockdown (f, ShKlf4). Klf4-induced EC marker upregulation and SMC marker downregulation is ablated by β-catenin knockdown (g). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01. Scale bars: 10 μm (a). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001.