EPC transplantation reduced inflammatory response in vivo and in vitro. (a–c) Quantifications of the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA in ischemic brain at 1, 3 and 14 days after tMCAO, respectively. The data in Sham group were normalized to 1. Data are represented as mean±SD. n=3–4 per group. *, p<0.05, **, p<0.01. (d) Quantifications of the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CD16, CD86, CD206 and Arginase mRNA in cultured microglia under C3a treatment among groups. The data in Control group were normalized to 1. Data are represented as mean±SD. n=3 per group. *, p<0.05, **, p<0.01. Control: untreated group; C3a: C3a treated group; C3a+un-CM: control medium treated under C3a treatment; C3a+EPCCM: EPC-conditional medium treated under C3a treatment.