Figure 5: Effects of CXCR2 on the Ac-PGP–stimulated acceleration of wound healing and neovascularization.

(a) Representative images of wounds at indicated days with HBBS or Ac-PGP (0.1 μM) treatment after creating excisional skin wounds by 6-mm biopsy punch in wild-type (WT) or CXCR2-knockout (CXCR2 KO) mice are shown. (b) Quantitative analysis of the wound area at indicated days in comparison with the original wound during the recovery period is shown. The wound area was measured by using Image J software program (version 1.50i). Data indicate mean ± SD. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 WT Ac-PGP versus WT HBSS; ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01, ^###p < 0.001 WT HBSS versus CXCR2 KO HBSS (n = 12–20). (c) Representative images of mouse skin wound samples at day 6 after immunostaining with anti-CD31 antibody (green) or anti-α-SMA antibody (red) are shown. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI (blue). Bar = 100 um. (d) Quantitative analysis of CD31-positive blood vessels in the dermal area of day 6 skin wound samples is shown. Data indicate mean ± SD. **p < 0.01 WT Ac-PGP versus WT HBSS, ^#p < 0.05 WT HBSS versus CXCR2 KO HBSS (n = 8). (e) Quantitative analysis of α-SMA-positive vessels in the dermal area of day 6 skin wound samples is shown. Data indicate mean ± SD. ***p < 0.01 WT Ac-PGP versus WT HBSS, ^#p < 0.05 WT HBSS versus CXCR2 KO HBSS (n = 8).