Figure 4.

FKE peptides promote macrophage efferocytosis. Mice undergoing peritonitis for 48 h were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with PBS, FKE, or FKD peptides (50 µM each). After additional 18 h, peritoneal macrophages were isolated and stained with CF488A-conjugated phalloidin and Hoechst. Slides were visualized under a Nikon A1 confocal microscope and nuclei of engulfed polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) were enumerated [see (A) for a representative image]. Results show the average number of engulfed apoptotic PMN per macrophage (B) and the percentage of macrophages that did not engulf apoptotic PMN (C). Results are averages ± SEM from three independent experiments (n = 4 per group). *indicate statistically significant differences of P ≤ 0.05 by ANOVA with Tukey post hoc analysis.