Typing of pancreatic cancer-associated fibroblasts identifies different subpopulations

Figure 5 Tenascin C expression in pancreatic cancer. A: Semi-quantitative mean labelling scores of tenascin C in juxtatumoural extracellular matrix (j-ECM) = 3.5, peripheral extracellular matrix (p-ECM) = 1.5, lobular extracellular matrix = 2.3, and septal extracellular matrix (s-ECM) = 2.1. Tenascin C is expressed at significantly higher levels in j-ECM than in p-ECM and s-ECM. ^aP < 0.05, ^cP < 0.001; B: Strong tenascin C expression in the ECM of the juxtatumoural stroma; C: In the peripheral stroma, weak tenascin C expression was observed in the ECM. Tenascin C was abundantly expressed around nerves (arrow). Maspin-positive cancer cells are D: present in the juxtatumoural stroma but; E: not in the peripheral stroma. Strong Sirius Red staining in F: j-ECM and G: p-ECM (scale bars, 250 μm). j-ECM: Juxtatumoural extracellular matrix; p-ECM: Peripheral extracellular matrix; l-ECM: Lobular extracellular matrix; s-ECM: Septal extracellular matrix.