Fig. 3

Upregulated PIEZO1 results from proliferating satellite cells. (A-C) Representative immunofluorescence images showed increased proportion of PAX7⁺ cells and PIEZO1⁺/PAX7⁺ cells in the muscle tissue of DMD patients (n = 3; mean ± SD; Student’s t-test). (D) The proportions of different cell types in the tibialis anterior muscles of WT and mdx mice. (E-F) Representative Western blot of Piezo1 in satellite cells of WT and mdx mice, and no significant changes in the relative Piezo1 level in WT and mdx mice. (n = 3; mean ± SD; Student’s t-test). (G-H) Representative immunofluorescence images showed that Piezo1 was expressed in the sarcolemma and some specific cells, and no significant changes in the intensity of Piezo1 in sarcolemma (n = 5; mean ± SD; Student’s t-test). IIa indicates type IIa myonuclei; IIx, type IIx myonuclei; IIb, type IIb myonuclei; IIx_b, type IIx_b myonuclei; NMJ, neuromuscular junction myonuclei; MTJ, myotendinous junction myonuclei; MuSC, muscle satellite cells; Myob, myoblasts; RegMyon, regenerative myonuclei; SMC, smooth muscle cells; EC, endothelial cells; FAP, fibro/adipogenic progenitors; TC, tenocytes; MPH, macrophages. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. *P < 0.05. Scale bar, 50 μm