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. 2016 Aug 12;7:12422. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12422

Figure 3. Cardiac mural cells originate from endothelial cells.

Figure 3

(a–d) Clonal analysis of Cdh5-CreERT2 Rosa26-mTmG double-transgenic mice. (a) Clonal analysis strategy of Cdh5-CreERT2 Rosa26-mTmG mice indicating the stages of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) administration and analysis. (b) Overview of GFP+ cell distribution in heart at E16.5. (c) Images showing widespread distribution of EC-derived GFP+ PDGFRβ+ mural cells (arrows). Arrowheads mark GFP− PDGFRβ+ cells. (d) Higher magnification images showing vessel-associated (isolectin B4), EC-derived GFP+ PDGFRβ+ NG2+ mural cells (arrows) at E16.5 (top and middle row) and GFP+ αSMA+ mural cells (arrows) at E18.5 (bottom row). Arrowheads mark GFP+ (green) isolectin B4+ (blue) ECs. Grey channel was not included in merged image. (e) Lineage tracing in Tie2-Cre Rosa26-mTmG double-transgenic hearts. Confocal images showing GFP+ PDGFRβ+ NG2+ and GFP+ αSMA+ mural cells (arrows) in association with myocardial capillary ECs (isolectin B4). Arrowheads mark GFP+ (green) isolectin B4+ (blue) ECs. Grey channel was not included in merged image.