Effects of PB-EPCs on Homing Ability of Rabbit BMSCs via Endogenous SDF-1 and MCP-1
Fig 6
SDF-1, CXCR4, MCP-1, and CCR2 mRNA and protein levels.
A: EPCs upregulated SDF-1, CXCR4, and MCP-1 mRNA levels. SDF-1, CXCR4, and MCP-1 mRNA levels in the co-culture group were higher than those in other groups. *p < 0.05, * *p < 0.01, n = 4. CCR2 mRNA levels exhibited no difference between groups. B: SDF-1 and MCP-1 protein levels were detected using ELISA at 8 weeks. SDF-1 level in the co-culture group was greater than that in the BMSC group, the EPC group, and the unseeded group. *p < 0.05, * *p < 0.01, n = 4. MCP-1 level in the co-culture group was greater than that in the unseeded group. *p < 0.05, n = 4. However, no significant difference in MCP-1 level was found among the other groups. C: CXCR4 and CCR2 protein levels of the four groups were analyzed by Western blot. The only change observed was upregulation of CXCR4 protein level by EPCs. p < 0.05, * *p < 0.01, n = 4. D: Western blot electrophoretogram showing CXCR4 and CCR2 protein levels.