Figure 6.

Suppression of inflammation in vivo reduced BMP-7 level in CTX-injured muscle. (A) Immunofluorescence staining showing decreased macrophage number (CD68, red) and reduced BMP-7 level (green) in CTX-injured muscle in animals treated with the antiinflammatory drug dexamethasone (DEX). Bar = 200 μm. (B and C) Quantitative analysis of BMP-7+ and CD68 + cells at the interface of hydrogel scaffold and muscle. BMP-7+ and CD68 + cells were counted on 6 independent fields of view (FOV, 20 × magnification). (B) On Day 3, significant decrease in the number of BMP-7+ and CD68 + cells was observed in dexamethasone-treated animals (*, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01). (C) On Day 7, significant decrease in the number of CD68 + cells was observed in dexamethasone-treated animals (**, p < 0.01), while BMP-7+ cells were not detected.

BMP-7 = bone morphogenetic protein-7; CTX = cardiotoxin.