Fig. 4

STAT3-mediated transplanted hypo-ECFC proliferation in ischemic tissues. a Immunofluorescence staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA, green) in ischemic hindlimb after transplantation of nor-ECFCs, hypo-ECFCs, si-STAT3/hypo-ECFCs, or scramble siRNA/hypo-ECFCs (scale bar: 100 μm). b Co-immunofluorescence staining to detect Ki-67 (a proliferation marker, red) and nor-ECFCs, hypo-ECFCs, si-STAT3/hypo-ECFCs, or scramble siRNA/hypo-ECFCs (human nuclear antigen (HNA)-positive cells, green). DAPI (blue) was used for nuclear staining (scale bar: 50 μm). c Bar graph shows the results of number of PCNA⁺ cells 3 days after transplantation. d Quantitative analysis of Ki-67/HNA/DAPI triple-positive cells 3 days after transplantation of nor-ECFCs, hypo-ECFCs, si-STAT3/hypo-ECFCs, or scramble siRNA/hypo-ECFCs. **P < 0.01 vs. nor-ECFCs; ^## P < 0.01 vs. hypo-ECFCs; ^$$ P < 0.01 vs. si-STAT3/hypo-ECFC. ECFC endothelial colony-forming cell, PBS phosphate-buffered saline