Figure 4. Actin-rich intimal cells express smooth muscle markers and are not of endothelial or hematopoietic origin.

Mef2c^WT aortic inner-curvature (left panel) and Mef2c^Tie2EKO thoracic aorta (right panel) were subjected to en face preparation, immunostained with Myh11 (A), Acta2 (B) and S100a4 (C) with co-labeling of endothelium (PECAM-1) and F-actin (phalloidin). D, Aortic inner-curvature and thoracic aorta from Mef2c^Tie2EKO Rosa26^Tomato where endothelial and hematopoietic derived cells were labeled with tdTomato were subjected to en face preparation, and co-labeling of endothelium (PECAM-1) (D) or smooth muscle (Myh11) (E) and F-actin (phallodin). Confocal z-series were acquired and representative y-plane images were shown (n≥4).