Fig. 4

Fibrotic markers are increased early in Sgcd^−/− mice. A Gene expression levels of ECM components (Fn1, Ccn2, Col1a1, and Col3a1) and FAPs/active fibroblast markers (Pdgfra and Postn). Data are normalized to gapdh (n = 3–5). A two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison post-test was used to compare genotypes of mice at each age and muscle. Values represent mean ± SEM; *p ≤ 0.05, **p ≤ 0.01, ***p ≤ 0.001, and ****p ≤ 0.0001. B Immunoblot analysis of fibronectin, CTGF/CCN2, PDGFRα, periostin, and GAPDH protein levels in TR lysates. Protein levels normalized to GAPDH compared by unpaired two-tailed t-test for mouse genotypes at each age and muscle (n = 3). Values represent mean ± SEM; *p ≤ 0.05, **p ≤ 0.01, and ***p ≤ 0.001. C Representative images of TR fibrosis visualized by fibronectin immunofluorescence (red) and Hoechst (nuclei, blue) and Sirius Red staining (collagen, red). Scale bar: 100 μm