Fig. 4

Tbx3 loss leads to overshoot proliferation of acinar cells and accumulation of fibrosis. a Schematic representation of the caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis assay shown in b–l. Mice were euthanized at the indicated time points (arrows in blue). b Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained histological sections of control littermates of Tbx3-KO (epi) and Tbx3^fl/fl; Ptf1a^Cre/+ (Tbx3-KO (epi)) pancreata after treatment with caerulein or vehicle. c Quantification of acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM), d edema score, f inflammatory infiltration score per field in pancreata from caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis assay shown in a (n≥6 per group). f Representative immunohistochemistry stainings for KI-67 and g immunofluorescence co-staining of KI-67/AMY2A (red/green) at indicated timepoints. h Quantification of KI-67-positive acinar cells per field in pancreata from caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis assay shown in a (n≥6 per group, detailed in Additional file 3). i Picrosirius red stained histological sections of pancreata from caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis assay shown in a. j Quantification of picrosirius red-positive area as ratio to hematoxylin-based whole pancreas surface in pancreata from caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis assay shown in a (n≥6 per group). k Immunofluorescence staining for ACTA2 (red) in pancreata at 72h after induction of the acute pancreatitis. l Relative mRNA expression of Acta2 at 72h after induction of acute pancreatitis. m Representative immunohistochemistry staining for caspase-3 (CASP3) at the 72h timepoint and n respective quantifications. Cells were counterstained with DAPI for immunofluorescence analysis. Graphs present individual data points and mean with SEM. Two-way ANOVA with Sidak’s post-test was performed for graphs with multiple time points. Mann-Whitney test was performed to assess significance at single time points for apoptosis and Acta2. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01. Scale bars represent 100 μm