Fig. 6

Impact of mitochondrial transfer on inflammatory and tendon matrix-related factors. The pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β (A) and IL-6 (B) were counted by ELISA in tendon tissues from each group (n = 3). C Level of pro-inflammatory factor TNF-α was assessed by RT-qPCR (n = 3). IHC staining of macrophage-specific CD68 (D) and MMP-9 (E) (D, E, n = 6). D and E, scale bars: 200 × , 100 µm. Quantification of CD68 (H) and MMP-9 (I) levels for Fig. 6D and E, respectively. IF staining against Col I (F) and Col III (G) (F, G, n = 6). F and G, scale bars: 200 × , 25 µm. J, K Quantification analysis of Fig. 6F and G, respectively. Data represent mean ± SD. Statistical significance of the differences among groups was determined by ANOVA (Bonferroni or LSD method). ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01, ^***P < 0.001