FIG. 4.

EPLCs have the potential to differentiate into SMC-like cells. (A) Schematic of the protocol used for SMC induction. (B) qRT-PCR analysis of expression of the SMC markers ACTA2, CNN1, TAGLN, and MYH11 in cells treated with the indicated factors. Gene expression was normalized to TBP. Error bars represent SEM; n = 3; **p < 0.01 versus untreated cultures, analyzed by the Student's t-test. (C) Immunofluorescence staining of CNN1 and TAGLN in D15 + 8 NT and TGFβ1+bFGF-induced EPLC cultures. Scale bars, 100 μm. (D) Flow cytometry analysis of the proportion of CNN1⁺/TAGLN⁺ cells in D15 + 8 NT and TGFβ1+bFGF-induced EPLC cultures. Error bars represent SEM; n = 3; **p < 0.01. bFGF, basic fibroblast growth factor; NT, no treated; SMC, smooth muscle cell; TGFβ1, transforming growth factor β1. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/scd