Figure 2. Neither TLR3 inhibition nor TLR3 activation affects early stage cardiac reprogramming.

(A) Neonatal cardiac fibroblasts were first transfected with either a control siRNA or a siRNA that targeted TLR3. Two days later, the cells were transfected again with either the negative control miR negmiR or miR combo. The day after transfection with miRNAs, the media was replaced and the cells cultured in normal growth media for 3 days. RNA levels of the cardiomyocyte-lineage commitment factors Gata4, Hand2, Tbx5 and Mef2C was determined by qPCR. N=9 independent experiments. Comparisons are made between miR combo + control siRNA and miR combo + TLR3 siRNA, ns: not significant. Data represented as Mean ± SEM.

(B) Neonatal cardiac fibroblasts were transfected with negative control miR (negmiR) or miR combo. The day after transfection media was replaced and the cells incubated with vehicle or the TLR3 agonist Poly(I:C) LMW (low molecular weight Poly(I:C)) for a further 3 days. RNA levels of the cardiomyocyte-lineage commitment factors Gata4, Hand2, Tbx5 and Mef2C was determined by qPCR. N=6 independent experiments. Comparisons are made between miR combo + vehicle and miR combo + TLR3 agonist, ns: not significant. Data represented as Mean ± SEM.