Figure 2. PGI₂-hMSCs showed superior acute retention in ischaemic hindlimbs.

(a) Representative in vivo bioluminescent images of NOD–SCID mice at indicated intervals after injection of vehicle (PBS), 3.1-hMSCs, PGI₂-hMSCs or 3.1-hMSCs+ILO into the gastrocnemius muscle of the ischaemic hindlimbs. The minimal noninvasive visualized value was 1 × 10⁶ photons s⁻¹ cm⁻² sr⁻¹. (b) Quantification of maximal bioluminescence in cell-treated ischaemic hindlimbs at the indicated time. *P<0.05, PGI₂-hMSCs versus 3.1-hMSCs or versus 3.1-hMSCs+ILO by a one-way ANOVA with Newman–Keuls post hoc test. Data are shown as mean±s.e.m. N=5 mice (male and female) per treatment group. All treatment groups were sex matched. (c–e) hMSCs were not detected in the heart, spleen, lung, kidney or liver at 14 days after cell delivery.