Figure 3. Human UCB-derived CD14⁺ cells regulate oxidative stress and apoptosis, and express markers of myeloid cell differentiation in the OIR model.

Several human genes are up-regulated at P17 in the CD14⁺-treated retinas compared to retinas injected with the negative fraction, CD14⁻ cells and compared to retinas injected with the vehicle, DPBS. A fold increase of 1.6 or greater of anti-apoptotic genes is observed (black) (IFI6, IFI16, AKT1, BCL2A1). Human anti-oxidative stress genes are significantly up regulated when CD14⁺ cells are injected compared to the negative fraction (green). Numerous genes characteristic of myeloid cell differentiation are highly expressed in the CD14⁺-treated retinas (blue). The CD14⁺ cells increase expression of vascular adhesion molecules (ICAM1) and the extracellular matrix receptor (CD44) (orange). Genes characteristic of endothelial cell differentiation (VEGF) and inflammation (TNF, IL6) are not significantly different between the CD14⁺ cells and the retinas treated with the negative fraction. (n = 12, n = number of retinas independently extracted and analyzed for each treatment) (*P <0.01; **P <0.001).