Research Article

Lung Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Elastase-Induced Damage in an Animal Model of Emphysema

Figure 4

Growth factor profile and MSCs. (a–c) Protein expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) (a), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (b), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) (c) in the lung by Western blotting. (d) Negative control for HGF staining. (e) Representative images displaying HGF (red) in the proximity of GFP-positive MSCs (green). (f) Intracellular content of HGF (red) in a GFP-positive MSC (green). (g–i) c-Met expression (red) in the lung parenchyma from the naïve (g), PPE (h), and PPE-MSC (i) groups; alveolar type II epithelial cells are shown by SFTPC (green). Nuclei are counterstained with DAPI (blue). Data are expressed as the mean ± SD ( in each experimental group). Scale bars: 10 μm (f) and 20 μm (g–i). versus naïve; versus PPE.
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