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Fig. 2 | Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research

Fig. 2

From: SM22α+ vascular mural cells are essential for vessel stability in tumors and undergo phenotype transition regulated by Notch signaling

Fig. 2

Notch activation in SM22-MCs suppresses tumor growth and normalizes tumor vessels. a NICSM22 and Ctrl mice were inoculated with LLC cells. Tumor weight and volume were determined 21 days later (n = 7 for NICSM22 and n = 6 for Ctrl). b Tumor sections were immunostained with Ki67. The percentages of Ki67+ cells were compared (n = 5). c Tumor sections were stained with H&E (n = 5) or Glut1 immunofluorescence (n = 4). The necrotic (marked by red lines) and hypoxic (Glut1+) areas were evaluated and compared between the NICSM22 and Ctrl mice. d Tumor sections were immunostained with CD31, α-SMA, and SM22α. Vessel density and vMC coverage were quantitatively compared between the NICSM22 and Ctrl mice (n = 6 for CD31; n = 5 for CD31 plus α-SMA; and n = 4 for CD31 plus SM22α). e Mice bearing LLC tumors were injected i.v with FITC-conjugated Dextran-2MD 15 min before sacrifice. Tumor tissues were then immunostained with CD31. Perfused vessels (CD31+Dex-2MD+) were quantitatively determined (n = 4). Bars = means ± SD. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; and ***, P < 0.001

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