Fig. 5.

The expression of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE) in graft vessels 90 days after transplantation. a Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that both HMGB1 and RAGE were highly expressed in the allograft vessels compared with the isograft. Cytoplasmic expression of HMGB1 was visible in the allografts, suggesting its cytoplasmic translocation and extracellular release. MSC transplantation markedly reduced the expression of HMGB1 and RAGE in allograft vessels. The inhibitory effect was amplified by pLV-HMGB1 transfection, but it was abolished or even reversed by inhibition of RAGE with pshRNA-RAGE1 or pshRNA-RAGE3 transfection. The results were obtained from eight rats for each group. b The expression of HMGB1 and RAGE was also analyzed by Western blot. The graft vessels of the same group (eight rats for each group, 50-mg graft vessels for each rat) were mixed together and homogenized to prepare protein samples for Western blot analysis. The results were consistent with those revealed by immunohistochemistry