Fig. 3

Notch signaling does not block VSMC dedifferentiation in AVFs. A Representative longitudinal images of α-SMA staining of 1 month AVFs that were created in WT mice. The red arrows point to the dedifferentiated VSMCs at AVF anastomosis. B The presence of RBP-Jκ in AVF anastomosis did not block VSMC dedifferentiation. Representative double immunostainings of RBP-Jκ and α-SMA are shown. Yellow arrows point to RBP-Jκ⁺/α-SMA⁺ cells and white arrows point to RBP-Jκ⁺/α-SMA⁻ cells. C Schematic of VSMC labeling in transgenic mice. D and E Representative images of double immunostaining of GFP and α-SMA in AVFs that were created in uremic VSMC^GFP and VSMC^{RBP−Jκ KO/GFP} mice (D). The number of GFP⁺/α-SMA⁻ cells (dedifferentiated VSMCs) was counted in the two groups (E). (n = 5; *p < 0.05; Mann–Whitney test was used for statistical analysis; all scale bars = 100 μm)