Figure 5
From: Extracellular matrix stiffness dictates Wnt expression through integrin pathway
ECM stiffness regulated β-catenin accumulation via integrin/FAK/Akt pathway.
Results from primary chondrocytes 48 hr after seeding on stiff (100 kPa) or soft (0.5–1 kPa) ECM. (a) Phosphorylated FAK and (b) Phosphorylated Akt levels were analyzed by western blotting. (c) Phosphorylated Akt levels in the presence of 1 μM PF573228 or DMSO were analyzed by western blotting. (d) β-catenin and (e) Wnt1 levels in the presence of 1 μM PF573228 or DMSO were analyzed by western blotting. (f) β-catenin and (g) Wnt1 levels in the presence of FAK siRNA or scramble were analyzed by western blotting. (h) Total β-catenin and Wnt1 levels in the presence of BIO (10 μM) or DMSO were analyzed by western blotting. Western results were from 3 independent experiments (except 6 in f–h), with blots exemplifying one experiment and the bar graphs showing the combined results on stiff matrix expressed as percentages (means ± SEM) of the corresponding results on soft matrix. GAPDH was used to normalize for equal loading in western blotting. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, n.s. stands for not statistically significant.
