Gastrodin Ameliorates Acute Rejection via IRE1α/TRAF2/NF-κB in Rats Receiving Liver Allografts

Figure 3

GAS protects against liver cell apoptosis and promotes M2-type polarization of macrophages after liver transplantation. (a) Immunofluorescence for observing CD204 (red) and CD206 (green) expressions in liver tissues 14 d postoperatively. More positively labeled M2-type macrophages were observed in GAS treatment groups (magnification: ×400, scale bars: 50 μm). (b) The numbers of CD204(+)CD206(+) intrahepatic macrophages were increased in GAS treatment groups 14 d postoperatively with flow cytometric analysis. (c) Dendritic cells (DCs) were isolated from liver tissues 14 d postoperatively in each group. There was no significant difference in the numbers of CD11c(+)MHC-II(+) DCs between the LT group and the GAS group 14 d postoperatively with flow cytometric analysis. (d) Liver cell apoptosis in GAS treatment groups was decreased 14 d postoperatively using annexin V/PI staining by flow cytometric analysis. (e) Western blot was performed using liver tissues collected 14 d postoperatively. The expression of Bad, Bax, and Caspase-3 was decreased, and Bcl2 was increased in GAS treatment groups (n ≥ 5, ). Values represent mean ± SD of at least three independent experiments.