Fig. 4. DLL4 induces pericyte-myofibroblast transition and fibrosis.
(A) Images of αSMA-GFP expression in primary kidney PDGFRβ+ pericytes 48 h after indicated treatments. Primary kidney pericytes are isolated from αSMA-GFP mice. Note that DLL4 and TGF-β1 synergistically enhance αSMA-GFP expression. (B) Quantification of GFP expression. (C) qPCR of collagen I, α1 (Col1a1) transcripts in kidney PDGFRβ+ pericytes. n = 3/group. *P < 0.05 vs. corresponding vehicle treated group, #P < 0.05 vs. vehicle treated control group. Scale bar, 20 μm.