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

Figure 6 Effects of the supernatant of Ad-Null and Ad-hepatocyte growth factor modified dental pulp stem cells on the expression of adhesion molecules by human aortic endothelial cells under inflammatory stimulation. A and B: Human aortic endothelial cells (HAOECs) were indirectly co-cultured with the supernatant of Ad-Null modified dental pulp stem cells (DPSC-Null-CM) or Ad-hepatocyte growth factor modified DPSCs (DPSC-HGF-CM) for 2 h or 8 h under tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (100 ng/mL) stimulation. The expression of the adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in HAOECs under inflammatory stimulation was detected by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at 2 h (A) and 8 h (B) (n = 3). HAOECs were pretreated with DPSC-Null-CM or DPSC-HGF-CM for 4 h, and TNF-α (100 ng/mL) was then added for 5 min; C: The expression of phosphorylated p65 and p65 in inflammation-stimulated HAOECs was investigated using western blotting; D: Gray values analysis of Figure C; E: The expression of phosphorylated p65 and p65 in HAOECs under nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activator treatment was investigated using western blotting; F: Gray values analysis of Figure E; G and H: VCAM-1 was detected in HAOECs treated with the NF-κB activator by RT-PCR at 2 h (G) and 8 h (H) (n = 3). All results are represented as the mean ± SEM; ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001 vs. control group; ^dP < 0.05, ^eP < 0.01, ^fP < 0.001 vs. tumor necrosis factor-α group; ^gP < 0.05, ^hP < 0.01, ⁱP < 0.001 vs. supernatant of Ad-Null modified dental pulp stem cells group. DPSC-Null-CM: Supernatant of Ad-Null modified dental pulp stem cells; DPSC-HGF-CM: Supernatant of Ad-hepatocyte growth factor modified dental pulp stem cells; TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; VCAM-1: Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1; ICAM-1: Intercellular adhesion molecule-1; MCP-1: Monocyte chemotactic protein-1; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.