Figure 3. Bacterially induced matrilysin expression colocalizes with lysosomal structures in cultured epithelial cells. Untreated control (A, C, E) and F. necrophorum (AHN 12454)-treated (B, D, F) periodontal ligament epithelial cells were simultaneously immunostained for matrilysin and lysosomal membrane protein h-lamp-1, followed by two fluorescent secondary antibodies Alexa-488 and Alexa-546. Samples were analyzed by laser confocal microscopy, and optical z-axis sections were recorded. Optical sections—one each from the basal, middle, and apical regions of the cells—were presented together. Red channel (A, B), corresponding to Alexa-546 fluorescence, reveals h-lamp-1 expression, and green channel (C, D), corresponding to Alexa-488 fluorescence, reveals matrilysin expression. Red and green images were merged into an RGB file (E, F) showing colocalization (yellow) of the two signals.
