Fig. 5.

Anti-Sca-1 antibody modification improves vascular smooth muscle regeneration, and enhances EC-SMC layer formation at 2- and 4- weeks post-implantation. (A) (C) Representative immunofluorescence images of PCL and PCL-Sca-1 Ab grafts showed SMC regeneration by staining the sections with anti-α-SMA and anti-SM-MHC antibodies, respectively. Scale bars, 500 μm or 100 μm (magnified images). (B) (D) Quantification of the average layer thickness of α-SMA and SM-MHC positive cells. Data were expressed as mean ± s.e.m. for each group: *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001. (E) The interaction between ECs and SMCs was observed by double immunofluorescence staining with anti-α-SMA and anti-vWF antibodies. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. Scale bar, 50 μm. Images and data are representative of n = 6 independent experiments.