Gap Junctions Are Involved in the Rescue of CFTR-Dependent Chloride Efflux by Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Coculture with Cystic Fibrosis CFBE41o- Cells

Figure 3

Effect of the siRNA Cx43 on Lucifer yellow (LY) diffusion in cocultures. (a) Mixed hAMSC-CFBE cells were transfected with siRNA against Cx43 or the scrambled siRNA or left untreated, cultured on glass slides, and evaluated for LY diffusion after 6 days by confocal microscopy (XY images). As a positive control of GJIC inhibition, 10 nM mercury (II) chloride was added to cocultures on the fifth day. Original magnification: 60x and 2.5x zooming. The inset panels show the injected cell indicated by the white arrow. The same cell with the dextran in red is shown in the side panels. Scale bar: 10 μm. (b) Mixed hAMSC-CFBE cells were transfected with siRNA against Cx43 or the scrambled siRNA or left untreated, cultured on Transwells, and evaluated for LY diffusion after 6 days by confocal microscopy (XY images). Original magnification: 60x. Scale bar: 30 μm.

(a)

(b)