Fig. 5

ACVRIB-negative ESCC shows epithelial alterations, however extracellular matrix protein expression remains unaltered. a-c Hematoxylin and eosin staining of parent, empty, and Fibro-ActA organotypic cultures, cultured with TE-11 ESCC cells. Fibro-ActA cultures show increased keratin deposition in the epithelial layer, compared to parent and empty vector controls. d-f Three-dimensional organotypic Fibro-ActA cultures exhibit no alterations in epithelial E-cadherin (E-cad) or stromal vimentin (Vim) expression, as examined by immunofluorescence. g-i αSMA and podoplanin (PDPN) expression was unchanged between conditions. Co-localization of the markers is denoted by asterisks(*). j-l Fibronectin (FN) deposition and (m-o) Ki67 and (p-r) laminin5γ2 expression was not different between control (parent and empty) and Fibro-ActA. s-u Collagen IV deposition, a primary component of basement membrane deposition, was decreased in Fibro-ActA compared to control. v-x Collagen IV staining, higher magnification of boxed region in s-u. Arrows indicate the collagen IV basement membrane, laid by the epithelial cells. (Short scale bar = 20 μm; long scale bar = 5 μm) (n = 2)