Fig. 5

Functions of MSCs when their GDF11 was knocked down with siRNA. A GDF11 mRNA levels in MSC after the cells were transfected with siRNA^NC or siRNA^GDF11 (n = 3). B The viability of MSC was examined by CCK-8 assay after the GDF11 was knocked down with siRNA (n = 5). C Proteins GDF11, VEGFA, HGF, BAX, and Bcl2 were detected by Western blot after MSCs were transfected with siRNA. D Quantification of proteins in C. E Representative images showing tube formation of MSCs after the GDF11 was knocked down with siRNA. Scale bars: 500 μm. F Quantification of tube formation in E by measuring branch lengths of formed tube. Only length > 200 μm was counted (n = 5 in each group). G Representative images of migration of MSCs in a transwell assay for siRNA^NC or siRNA^GDF11. Scale bars: 200 μm. H Quantification of migrated MSCs to the lower chamber (n = 3 in each group). I The representative pictures display tube formation of HUVECs on Matrigel cultured with conditioned media from MSC^NC or MSC^{GDF11−siRNA}. Scale bars: 200 μm. J Quantification of tube formation in I by measuring branch lengths of formed tube. Only length > 200 μm was counted (n = 5 in each group). K Transwell assay showed the migration capacity of HUVEC after 48 h culture with conditioned media from MSC^NC−siRNA or MSC^{GDF11−siRNA}. L Quantification of migrated cells to the lower chamber in K (n = 3 in each group)