Figure 4.

Effect of human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSC) on the formation of macrophage foam cells. Macrophages were cultured in two conditions: model, macrophages were cultured in the presence of oxidized LDL (OX-LDL) for 48 h; fibroblast or GMSC, macrophages were co-cultured with GMSC or fibroblast in the presence of OX-LDL for 48 h. (A,B) Macrophages were stained with Oil Red O, representative photos from each group are depicted and the bar graphs show the mean ± SEM, n = 4. (C,D) Macrophages were subjected to Western blotting to determine the protein level of CD36, scavenger receptor A1 (SRA1), and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and the bar graphs show the protein band intensity of ABCA1, CD36, and SRA1 normalized to GAPDH. Data are the representative of three independent experiments and presented as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; NS, p > 0.05.