Fig 3. Intracellular signaling activity in islets cultured in Matrigel.

FAK, Erk, and Akt protein levels in islets were evaluated by Western immunoblotting to assess the effect of Matrigel on cellular growth and cytoprotection. Cell lysates obtained from the islets-only, Matrigel, and GFR Matrigel groups were subjected to SDS-PAGE and Western immunoblotting using the indicated antibodies. Glyceraldehyde, phosphate dehydrogenase was used as the loading control. Phosphorylated FAK, Erk, and Akt were strongly expressed in the Matrigel and GFR Matrigel groups compared with the islets-only group. Erk, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; FAK, focal adhesion kinase; GFR, growth factor-reduced; SDS, sodium dodecyl sulfate.