Figure 5

Facilitated EC-lineage differentiation and re-endothelialization by Exisulind treatment.

(A) After three weeks of culture with peripheral blood mononuclear cells, Exisulind treatment induced the increased proportion of CD31-positive cells (EC differentiation marker), which was reversed by PKG inhibitor (8-Rp-cPT-cGMP: 20 μM). In contrast, Exisulind treatment reduced the number of cell positive for α-SMA (VMSC differentiation marker). Exi = Exisulind. *P = 0.03 vs. Vehicle in CD31-positive cells, **P < 0.01 vs. Vehicle in SMA-positive cells. (B) Western blot analysis for phospho-VASP and phospho-Akt in ECs and VSMCs suggests that Exisulind treatment did not reduce Akt activity in ECs but not in VSMCs. p-VASP239 = phospho-VASP at serine239, t-VASP = total VASP, p-Akt 473 = phospho-Akt at serine473, t-Akt = total Akt. (C) Immunofluorescence staining for CD31 in the sections at 1 week after injury. Compared to control group, Exisulind treatment increased CD31-positive cell lining. Scale bar = 100 or 50 μm. *P < 0.01 vs. Control. The data are presented as mean + SEM of five independent experiments.