Fig. 5

ECFCs improved capillary permeability and reduced local inflammation after CPB. After CPB for 24 h, the wet/dry ratio deteriorated. Compared with the wet/dry ratio in the CPB group, that in the ECFC group was decreased. The positive effect of ECFCs on the capillaries was reduced by L-NIO (a). After CPB, the cytokine levels, protein concentration and the number of cells in the BALF were significantly increased. Compared to the CPB treatment, ECFCs significantly reduced the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, the protein concentrations, the number of neutrophils and the level of neutrophil elastase in the BALF but the levels of IL-10 in the ECFC group were elevated. The regulatory effect of ECFCs on inflammatory factors and proteins was partly reversed by L-NIO (b). (black circle, sham group; black square, CPB group; black up-pointing triangle, ECFC group; black down-pointing triangle, ECFC/L group)