Figure 4.

BMP-7 decreases the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, and proteolytic MMP9 in the diabetic heart. (A–C) Representative photomicrographs of heart sections stained in the control group (a–e), STZ group (f–j), and STZ-BMP7 group (k–o) with sarcomeric-α actin (green, stained cardiac myocyte) (b, g, l) and inflammatory markers IL-6 (A), TNF-α (B), and MMP9 (C) in red (a, f, k) with nuclei stained (c, h, m) by DAPI in blue, merged (d, i, n) and enlarged (e, j, o) image. (D,F,H) Quantitative analysis-derived histograms of IL-6 (D), TNF-α (F), and MMP9 (H) +ve cardiomyocytes (colocalization of both red and blue DAPI in green cardiomyocytes) were quantified over total DAPI in heart sections of mice. (E,G,I) Representative Western blots and densitometric analysis of IL-6 (E), TNF-α (G), and MMP9 (I) markers are shown. Quantities are presented as an arbitrary unit (A.U). Statistical analysis was performed using One-Way ANOVA, which was followed by the Tukey test. Error bars= mean ± S.E.M. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001; Scale bar = 100 µm; n = 16/group.