FIGURE 8.

Fstl1 stimulates ischemia-induced revascularization through an eNOS-dependent mechanism. A, phosphorylation of eNOS and Akt in ischemic muscle tissues of wild-type and eNOS-KO mice at 6 days after transduction with Ad-Fstl1 or Ad-β-gal. Ad-Fstl1 or Ad-β-gal (control) was injected into five sites in adductor muscle of wild-type and eNOS-KO mice (2 × 10⁸ pfu each), 3 days before ischemic surgery. Phosphorylation of eNOS (P-eNOS) and Akt (P-Akt), total eNOS, total Akt, and Fstl1 levels were analyzed by Western blotting. Representative blots are shown from four independent experiments. B, quantitative analysis of the ischemic/non-ischemic laser Doppler blood flow ratio in eNOS-KO mice treated with Ad-Fstl1 (n = 7) and Ad-β-gal (n = 7). Results are shown as the mean ± S.D. N.S., not significant.