Fig. 6. Loss of E-cadherin is associated with increased expression of mesenchymal markers. (A) Immunocytochemistry demonstrated progressive repression of E-cadherin from fused MEE cells to those exposed to exogenous TGF3. Bar, 10 µm. (B) E-cadherin expression was also assessed by immunoblotting, showing a moderate loss in fused cells, followed by a complete loss in fused cells treated with TGF3. Dominant-negative Smad4 or LEF1 (DN Smad4 or DN LEF1, respectively) prevented this repression, whereas antisense -catenin/-catenin oligodeoxynucleotide (AS -catenin ODN) had no effect. Contrarily, we found that expression of the mesenchymal markers vimentin and Fibronectin was steadily increased; DN Smad4 and DN LEF1 prevented these increases. AS -catenin ODN had no effect on these proteins.