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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Dev Dyn. 2017 Jul 19;247(3):542–554. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.24539

Figure 3. RUNX2-I is induced by TGFβ signaling.

Figure 3

A-F. Activated endothelial cells derived from cultured AVC explants co-express RUNX2 (red in A and D) and pSmad1/5/8 (green in B) or pSmad2/3 (green in E). Merged picture in C and F confirms co-localization of the proteins in the cell nuclei (DAPI, blue). F-actin was stained with phalloidin to show cell morphology (cyan). Scale bar: 10µm. G. qPCR analysis of RUNX2 mRNA in AVC explants cultured in the presence of TGFβ2, TGFβ3 or BMP-2. Addition of TGFβ2 or TGFβ3 to culture media caused a significant increase in RUNX2 message levels whereas addition of BMP-2 caused no significant changes. H. qPCR analysis of RUNX2 mRNA in AVC explants cultured in the presence of neutralizing antibodies against TGFβ2 or TGFβ3 or with the BMP inhibitor, noggin. Blockage of TGFβ2 caused a significant decrease in the level of RUNX2 mRNA whereas blockage of TGFβ3 or BMP signaling did not cause any significant changes. Error bars = S.E.M.; * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; n.s. – non-significant.