Fig. 2

The mesenchymal transition of endothelial cells in mouse AVF thickening. Sham operated IVC specimens were obtained 6 weeks post-operation. AVF specimens were obtained at 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-operation. A–D IF images double stained for CD31 and αSMA (arrows, expression of CD31 in tunica media; arrowhead, double-positive cells). E–H IF images stained for VE-cadherin (dotted line, luminal surface of endothelium). I–L IF images stained for ITGB6 (dotted line, luminal surface of endothelium) M Quantification of the CD31/αSMA double-positive area. N Quantification of VE-cadherin expression. O Quantification of ITGB6 expression. Data are presented as median, 1st and 3rd quartiles, maximal and minimal values in the box plots (n = 6 per group). P values in M–O were determined by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test with Bonferroni correction. Insignificant P values are not shown. Images were obtained using the TissueFAXS system. AVF arteriovenous fistula, IVC inferior vena cava, IF immunofluorescence, αSMA smooth muscle alpha-actin, VE-cadherin vascular endothelial-cadherin, ITGB6 integrin subunit β6, Arbitrary unit (AU) = integrated density/area