Figure 4. TEV treatment increases ASCs myofibroblastic behavior in 3-D culture.
a) Schematic of 3-D culture systems: i) PDMS microwells and ii) free-floating collagen disks. b) Confocal micrographs of ASC α-SMA and Fn immunofluorescence following culture in collagen-based microwell cultures. Scale bar = 50 μm. c) Corresponding image analysis of immunofluorescence. * p<0.05 and ** p<0.01 vs. respective controls. d) Micrographs of free-floating 3-D collagen disks seeded with ASCs and cultured with control media or TEVs at day 0 and day 10. Blank collagen disks are shown as controls. Dotted white lines mark the gels. Scale bar = 500 μm. e) Relative changes in surface area of the disks at day 10. *** p<0.001 vs. all other conditions.