Fig. 3

CXCL12-EPC transplantation increased blood vessel density and promoted angiogenesis in ischemic mouse brain. A (a) Photomicrographs of CD31⁺ microvessels in ipsilateral hemisphere in PBS, LV-CXCL12, GFP-EPC, and CXCL12-EPC groups at 5 weeks after MCAO. (b) Quantification of CD31⁺ microvessels in perifocal region 5 weeks after MCAO. B (a) Representative photomicrographs of CD31⁺ microvessels in contralateral hemisphere. Hollow box in brain diagram shows area of interest at 5 weeks after MCAO. (b) Ratio of ipsilateral/contralateral CD31⁺ microvessels at 5 weeks after MCAO. C (a) Representative photomicrographs of CD31 and BrdU immunostaining of ipsilateral hemisphere at 5 weeks after MCAO. Arrows indicate CD31⁺/BrdU⁺ colocalized newly formed microvessels. (b) Quantification of CD31⁺/BrdU⁺ newly formed microvessels in ipsilateral hemisphere at 5 weeks after MCAO. D (a) Representative image of GFP⁺ cells (white arrows) from GFP-EPC and CXCL12-EPC therapy mouse brain 4 weeks after transplantation. (b) Quantification of GFP⁺ EPCs in ipsilateral hemisphere in GFP-EPC and CXCL12-EPC-treated group 4 weeks after transplantation. Scale bar: 100 μm. n = 3–4 mice/group. Data presented as mean ± SD. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. All markers presented by pseudo colors. PBS phosphate-buffered saline, GFP-EPC endothelial progenitor cell modified by gfp gene, GFP green fluorescent protein, CXCL12-EPC endothelial progenitor cell modified by cxcl12 gene