FIG 1.

Chlamydia infection of epithelial cells that induces EMT results in the generation of myofibroblasts (effector cells of fibrosis). Monolayers of murine oviduct epithelial cells were infected with C. trachomatis serovar D, and after 48 h, immunofluorescence staining of the cells for epithelial and markers as well as the specific myofibroblast marker alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was performed on infected and noninfected monolayers by standard procedures. Fluoresceinated antibodies against the following markers were used: β-catenin and α-SMA. Antibodies stained both intracellular and surface antigens. Images were acquired with a 20× objective on a Nikon fluorescence microscope with the same microscope settings and exposure time. The representative slides are from at least 4 repeated experiments showing similar results.