Fig. 3

Assessment of functional recovery in a wound excision model after subcutaneous injection with EPCs. a After administration of an excisional wound to wild-type (WT) mice, we subcutaneously transplanted PBS, WT EPCs, and Lnk-deficient EPCs into wound sites. b The graph shows the proportion of the wound area at the indicated time points post wounding. Values are mean ± SEM; ^** p < 0.01 compared to injection with PBS and ^## p < 0.01 compared to injection with WT EPCs. c On postoperative day 10, capillary formation was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining for CD31 (green). Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bar = 50 μm. d After PKH26 dye (red)-stained EPCs were subcutaneously injected into wound sites, incorporation of the transplanted EPCs into vessels was assessed by immunofluorescent staining for CD31 (green) on postoperative day 3. e Proliferation of transplanted EPCs was confirmed by immunofluorescent staining for PCNA (green) on postoperative day 3. f Apoptosis among transplanted EPCs was detected by immunofluorescent staining for cleaved caspase 3 (green) on postoperative day 3. g The graph shows the number of CD31-positive cells. Values are mean ± SEM; ^** p < 0.01 compared to injection with WT EPCs. h The graph shows the number of PKH26/CD31-positive cells. Values are mean ± SEM; ^** p < 0.01 vs. injection with WT EPCs. i The graph shows the number of PKH26/PCNA-positive cells. Values are mean ± SEM; ^** p < 0.01 compared to injection with WT EPCs. j The graph shows the number of PKH26/cleaved caspase 3-positive cells. Values are mean ± SEM; ^** p < 0.01 compared to injection with WT EPCs