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Fig. 3 | Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Fig. 3

From: Overexpression of GATA4 enhances the antiapoptotic effect of exosomes secreted from cardiac colony-forming unit fibroblasts via miRNA221-mediated targeting of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Fig. 3

Enhanced cardiac function and decreased apoptotic cells after myocardial infarction in mice transplanted with GATA4-Exo. a, b Representative M-mode images (a) and quantification (b) of EF% and FS% measured by echocardiography of sham (n = 6), PBS-treated (n = 6), NC-Exo-treated (n = 6), and GATA4-Exo-treated (n = 6) mice at 28 days after MI. (**p < 0.01 for PBS vs SHAM, #p < 0.05 for NC-Exo vs PBS, ##p < 0.01 for GATA4-Exo vs PBS, & p < 0.05 for GATA4-Exo vs NC-Exo). c, d Masson trichome-stained myocardial sections at 28 days after MI in mice treated with PBS, NC-Exo, or GATA4-Exo (n = 6 mice per experimental group, for each sample, 4 to 6 slices were taken according to the size of the heart). Scar tissue and viable myocardium are identified in blue and red, respectively. The percentage of the fibrotic area after AMI was calculated using the software ImageJ. The bar graph on the right quantifies the extent of fibrosis in each treatment group (##p < 0.01 for GATA4-Exo vs PBS, & p < 0.05 for GATA4-Exo vs NC-Exo). Scale bar: 1 mm. EF%: ejection fraction %; FS%: fraction shortening %. e Immunohistochemistry of sham-, PBS-, GATA4-Exo-, or NC-Exo-treated heart sections marking TUNEL-positive cardiomyocytes within the border zone of the infarcted hearts at 24 h after LAD artery ligation. Scale bar: 50 μm. f Quantification of myocardial apoptosis. Green staining indicates TUNEL-positive cells (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 between the indicated groups, n = 6)

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