Hepatocyte growth factor enhances the ability of dental pulp stem cells to ameliorate atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice

Figure 3 Ad-Null and Ad-hepatocyte growth factor modified dental pulp stem cells treatments reduced the percentages of monocytes, neutrophils and inflammatory macrophages in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice. Peripheral blood cells were stained with anti-mouse CD11b, anti-mouse Ly6G, and anti-mouse Ly6C at weeks 6 and 12 to determine the percentages of CD11b⁺Ly6G⁺ and CD11b⁺Ly6C⁺ cells (n = 3). A: Representative flow cytometry images of peripheral blood; B: Statistical charts of peripheral blood are shown; C: At the end of the experiment, peripheral blood cells were stained with anti-mouse CD86 and anti-mouse CD206, and the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD86 and CD206 were analyzed (n = 3). Splenocytes were stained with anti-mCD11b, anti-mLy6G, and anti-mLy6C to determine the percentages of CD11b⁺Ly6G⁺ and CD11b⁺Ly6C⁺ cells (n = 3); D: Representative flow cytometry images of the spleen; E: Statistical graphs of the spleen are shown; F: Splenocytes were stained with anti-mCD86 and anti-mCD206 antibodies, and the MFI of CD86 and CD206 were analyzed (n = 3). All results are represented as the mean ± SEM; ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001 vs. normal fat diet group; ^dP < 0.05, ^eP < 0.01 vs. high-fat diet group. DPSC-Null: Ad-Null modified dental pulp stem cells; DPSC-HGF: Ad-hepatocyte growth factor modified dental pulp stem cells; HFD: High-fat diet; NFD: Normal formula diet.