Figure 7.

LEF1 Triggered Therapeutic Gene (VEGF, IL-8, IGF) Expressions and Enhanced Angiogenesis in MI + LEF1/hUCB-MSCs

(A) Expression of growth factors HGF, CXCL8, IGF, and VEGF was measured by conventional PCR. (B) Increased mRNA expression of growth factors in LEF1/hUCB-MSCs compared with hUCB-MSCs. Real-time PCR demonstrated that the relative gene expressions of VEGF, CXCL8, and IGF to GAPDH were increased in LEF1/hUCB-MSCs. **p < 0.01. (C) Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF in three MI groups: MI alone, MI + hUCB-MSCs, and LEF1/MI + hUCB-MSCs. Anti-VEGF antibody faintly stained rat heart, but a stronger signal was detected in LEF1/hUCB-MSCs. Scale bars, 100 μm. (D) VEGF protein expression was measured in infarcted heart among different groups (n = 5). (E) Immunohistochemical staining for vWF in three MI groups: MI alone, MI + hUCB-MSCs, and LEF1/MI + hUCB-MSCs. The blood vessels are stained in brown (arrows). More vessels were observed in MI + LEF1/hUCB-MSCs. Scale bars, 100 μm. (F) Higher vascular densities were detected in the MI + LEF1/hUCB-MSC group than in the MI-alone and MI + hUCB-MSC groups (n = 5). *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01.