Therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on aortic atherosclerotic plaque in a high-fat diet rabbit model

Figures

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  Fig. 1. Characterization of UCSCs. A UCSCs display a spindle shaped and fibroblast-like morphology. B High UCSCs expression of CD90, CD29, CD73, and CD105, and low expression of HLA using flow cytometry

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  Fig. 2. Serum indexes at different time points of UCSCs treatment. Compared with the model group, after 1 month of UCSCs treatment, serum ALT, TC, and LDL-C levels were significantly lower. After 2 months of UCSCs treatment, serum ALT and LDL-C levels declined. After 3 months of UCSCs treatment, serum ALT, TC, LDL-C, TG, CK-MB, and ApoB levels were all significantly lower. (n = 8 in each group) *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, compared with model group

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  Fig. 3. Detection of blood filling of peripheral blood vessels in rabbit ears. A Morphological changes of ear peripheral blood vessels at different time points. The blood flow of the model group was not unobstructed (shown by the arrow) after 1, 2, 3, and 4 months of high-fat diet. B Analysis of laser Doppler flow imaging. Intravascular hemoperfusion (black arrow) in the model group was less than that of the control and UCSCs groups, and the average blood flow filling value (flux mean) was significantly reduced compared with the control and treatment groups. (n = 10 in each group) *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, compared with model group

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  Fig. 4. Ultrasonic detection of abdominal aorta and carotid artery. A Plaque in the aortic arch. B Several small plaques at the carotid artery bifurcation. C Plaque in the middle part of the abdominal aorta. D Hyperechoic plaque of aortic valve leaflet. E Small plaques at the carotid artery bifurcation. F Normal abdominal aorta (n = 10 in each group)

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  Fig. 5. Oil Red O Staining and detection of apoptosis and proliferation in the aorta. A Oil red O staining of the aorta; the percentage area of aorta lipid plaque in the model group was significantly larger than that in UCSCs and normal group. B HE results show there was different degree of lipid deposit and thickened intima wall in the model group. Apoptosis (TUNEL) of arterial cells decreased, proliferation (ki67) increased, and aortic EC antigen (CD31) expression increased in the UCSCs group. The last column is a representative display showing that most areas of the aorta did not produce plaques in the treatment group, bar = 100 μm. n = 8 in each group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, compared with model group

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  Fig. 6. Detection of inflammatory cells and cytokines in aorta. Staining of macrophages (CD68), inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-6), and anti-inflammatory factors (TGF-β and IL-10) in the aorta. The last column of Fig. 3 is a representative display showing that most areas of the aorta did not produce plaques in the treatment group, bar = 100 μm. Expression levels of CD68, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly decreased, and IL-10 and TGF-β levels were significantly increased in the UCSCs group compared to the model group. n = 8 in each group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, compared with model group

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  Fig. 7. Intestinal flora analysis. A Alpha diversity analysis of intestinal flora in each group of animals. B Beta-PCA diversity analysis of intestinal flora in each group. C Comparative analysis of the relative abundance of the TOP15 intestinal flora in each group. n = 7 in each group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, compared with model group

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  Fig. 8. Detection of TMAO, stem cells, ox-LDL, and scavenger receptor in aorta. A Quantitative analysis of TMAO secretion in the liver indicated that the concentration (P < 0.05) and content (P < 0.05) of TMAO in the UCSCs group were lower than that in the model group. B, C Location analysis of stem cells in the aorta showed that they were mainly located in the aortic plaque of the arterial wall. In the UCSCs treatment group, the absorption of ox-LDL decreased (P < 0.01), and the expression levels of macrophage scavenger receptors CD36 (P < 0.01) and SRA-1 (P < 0.01) decreased in the aorta. n = 6 in each group.*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, compared with model group