FIGURE 3 from Cancer-associated Fibroblast–specific Expression of the Matricellular Protein CCN1 Coordinates Neovascularization and Stroma Deposition in Melanoma Metastasis

In a syngeneic model of metastasis, CCN1-deficient stroma possesses reduced collagen deposition, whereas myofibroblast formation is unaffected. Skin tissue showed a significant decrease in collagen shown trichrome and Sirius red staining (A; arrow indicates stroma). Representative images shown; Graph shows mean area of collagen, detected using trichrome stain, present in stroma images ± SD; Student t test; n = 3). α-SMA–expressing myofibroblasts (B) and YAP-positive nuclei (C) are present in both wild-type and CCN1-deficient stroma (Representative images shown; Graphs represent mean α-SMA positive cells ± SD; one-way ANOVA; n = 5). Mice were examined after 14 days of tumor growth of B16F10 melanoma cells.