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

Figure 4 Ad-hepatocyte growth factor modified dental pulp stem cells treatment reduces the expression of inflammatory cytokines in aortic tissues and serum. The expression levels of matrix metallopeptidase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, interferon-γ, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and IL-10 in aortic tissue were detected by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (n = 3). A: The serum inflammatory factor expression levels of interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (n = 3); B: All results are represented as the mean ± SEM; ^cP < 0.001 vs. normal fat diet group; ^dP < 0.05, ^eP < 0.01, ^fP < 0.001 vs. high fat diet group; ^gP < 0.05, ^hP < 0.01, ⁱP < 0.001 vs. the Ad-Null modified dental pulp stem cells 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; MMP: Matrix metallopeptidase; IFN: Interferon; IL: Interleukin; MCP: Monocyte chemotactic protein; TNF: Tumor necrosis factor.