Figure 2.

Downregulation of Cx43 mRNA and protein induced by a specific siRNA in cocultures. (a) Cx43 mRNA levels. 1 : 5 hAMSC : CFBE cocultures were transfected with either Cx43 siRNA or scrambled siRNA for 6 days. In parallel, other cocultures were not transfected and Cx43 mRNA levels obtained from these cocultures were set at 1. Data are shown as mean ± SD of three experiments, each carried out in duplicate. ^∗∗∗ p < 0.0001 versus untransfected cocultures. (b) Cx43 protein levels and localisation. With the same experimental setting described in (a), cocultures were evaluated for Cx43 protein by confocal microscopy. The upper panels refer to cocultures incubated with the Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated antibody directed against Cx43, while the lower panels to cocultures in the absence of the primary antibody. Original magnification: 60x. Scale bar: 20 μm.