Fig. 2

Immunofluorescence studies of feline cortical fibroblasts isolated from healthy (FCF) and diseased kidneys (CKD-FCF). Immunofluorescence staining of FCF and CKD-FCF. Cell nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Both CKD-FCF and FCF stained positive for the mesenchymal markers vimentin (a), CD29 (b) and CD44 (c), and were negative for the epithelial marker cytokeratin AE1/AE3 (d), endothelial cell marker vWF (e), and the myogenic marker desmin (f) (images from CKD-FCF shown). CKD-FCF demonstrated VCAM-1 expression (g) in addition to this, but FCF isolated from the kidneys of healthy cats did not (h). Isotype controls were negative (i). Images were collected using a DM4000B upright microscope with samples illuminated using an EBQ100 light source and filter cubes A4 and L5 (all from Leica Microsystems) and an AxioCam MRm monochrome camera controlled through Axiovision software version 4.8.2 (Carl Zeiss Ltd). Images are representative of cells isolated from 3 different cats (CKD-FCF) and 2 different cats (FCF)