FIG. 8.

Synergistic effects of hyperoxia and exogenous SDF-1α on regulating EPC mobilization and homing. Hyperoxia (HBO) increases NO levels, likely through stimulating the NOS/NO pathway, in bone marrow to promote EPC mobilization. EPCs express CXCR4 on the cell surface. Local supplement of SDF-1α enhances EPC homing to the wound tissues via SDF-1α–CXCR4–mediated interaction. SDF-1α might also functions as a signal to stimulate bone marrow EPC mobilization. (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article at www.liebertonline.com/ars).