Fig. 5

Inhibition of CXCR4 signaling impairs bone formation of implanted CD146⁺ pericytes. CD146⁺CD31⁻CD45⁻ pericytes derived from periosteum or adipose tissue were implanted intramuscularly with or without AMD3100 treatment. Bone formation was assayed after four weeks. a Representative microcomputed tomography reconstruction images of the implant site among CD146⁺ pericytes derived from periosteum or adipose with AMD3100 or vehicle control. A DBM was used as a scaffold carrier. b Mean bone volume (BV) among each treatment group. c Mean bone surface (BS). d Representative histologic appearance by routine H&E of periosteal or adipose tissue CD146⁺ pericyte implants, among host animals treated with AMD3100 or vehicle control. Each image shown at low and high magnification. Black scale bar: 50 μm. e–g Bone histomorphometric measurements among each treatment group, including (e) osteoblast number (N.Ob), (f) osteoblast number per bone surface (N.Ob/BS), and (g) osteocyte number (N.Ot). h Osteocalcin (OCN) immunohistochemistry, appearing red, with DAPI nuclear counterstain, appearing blue. Dotted white lines demarcated edges of bone. White scale bar: 50 μm. i Quantification of OCN activity in the implants was shown. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001