Figure 3.

Relationship between Wnt3a, Lef1, MMP2 mRNA, endothelial cell invasion, and proliferation. (A) MMP2 mRNA levels by qRT-PCR in EAhy926 cells. Wnt3a CM increases the amount of MMP2 mRNA (*p = 0.0187). (B) MMP2 mRNA levels by qRT-PCR in EAhy926 cells. Transfection with a full-length Lef1 expression construct increases the amount of MMP2 mRNA (***p = 0.0005). (C) Lef1 mRNA levels by qRT-PCR in EAhy926 cells with control CM (column 1), following Wnt3a CM (columns 2, 3, 4) and in the presence of two different Lef1 siRNA (columns 3 and 4). The amount of Lef1 mRNA is reduced in cells treated with siRNA. (D) MMP2 mRNA levels by qRT-PCR in EAhy926 cells with control CM (column 1), following Wnt3a CM (columns 2, 3, 4) and in the presence of two Lef1 siRNAs (columns 3 and 4). Lef1 siRNA decreases MMP2 mRNA in EAhy926 cells from baseline and abrogates Wnt3a-mediated MMP2 induction (*p = 0.03). (E) Proliferation by MTT assay of EAhy926 cells. Transfection with a full-length Lef1 expression construct slightly increases proliferation after 96 hours (***p < 0.0001). (F) Invasion through Matrigel matrix by EAhy926 cells. Transfection with a full-length Lef1 expression construct significantly increases % invasion (**p = 0.0036).