The bioluminescent technique utilizes the enzyme luciferase, which catalyses the formation of light from ATP and luciferin

To identify the effects of MSCs on vulnerable plaques, we examined the morphological structure of plaques in the SP, VP and MSC groups using H&E and Masson's staining techniques. Plaque in the SP group was in a stable state with a thick fibrous cap, few inflammatory cells, many smooth muscle cells, collagen and elastic fibers and no ruptured plaque. In contrast, the VP group plaques displayed more unstable characteristics including large lipid cores, a thin fibrous cap, few smooth muscle cells and fibers and more inflammatory cells. After MSC transplantation, the plaques showed more stability compared to the VP group with a thick fibrous cap, few inflammatory cells, many smooth muscle cells and fibers and no ruptured plaque or thrombosis. The plaque fibrous cap/lipid ratio in the MSC and SP groups were significantly higher than that on the VP group. This also confirmed the interpretation that intravenous MSC could stabilize vulnerable plaque and transition them into more stable states and reduce the likelihood of plaque rupture and occlusion. We went on to measure the levels of NF-B in plaque, which is a key transcription factor that regulates the expression of a variety of inflammatory cytokines at the gene level. We found that NF-B expression was clearly The tracer was permitted to flow into for 10 minutes. It was omitted in some mice to enable evaluation of tissue autofluorescence in the tracer channel increased in plaque in the VP group. After MSC transplantation, NF-B expression significantly decreased, which suggests that MSCs can inhibit the expression and activation of NF-B through presently unknown mechanisms. This could potentially lead to suppression on the local inflammatory reaction, thereby stabilizing vulnerable plaques. These findings are consistent with many other studies that have shown that that MSCs can inhibit the expression and activity of NF-B [313]. TSG-6 mRNA and protein expression evaluated by Real-time PCR and Western blot. TSG-6 mRNA levels were compared to GAPDH mRNA and TSG-6 protein levels were compared to -actin protein values and are expressed as meanD. TSG6 mRNA expression in the VP group (2.27.18) was markedly higher than the SP group (1.01.12) (P 0.001). TSG-6 in the MSC group (7.89.08) was significantly higher than both the VP and SP groups, respectively (P 0.05, P 0.01) (A). TSG-6 protein expression was similarly up-regulated in the plaque of your MSC (0.747.107) and VP groups (0.409.102) compared to the SP group (0.226.059) (P 0.001, P 0.01). TSG-6 in the MSC group was further increased compared to the VP group (P 0.01) (B). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteolytic enzymes that are important in matrix turnover and are well recognized for their roles in tissue remodeling in cardiac and atherosclerotic diseases. Previous studies have shown that the expression and activity of MMPs is closely correlated with the stability of atherosclerosis plaque, and it is thought that dysregulation of MMP enzymatic activity may be involved in many inflammatory diseases [34]. We also found that MMPs expression was higher in the VP group than the SP group. Numerous studies have shown that MSCs can inhibit the expression and enzymatic activity of MMPs. Dixon et al. found that MSC transplantation inhibited ventricular remodeling by reducing the synthesis of MMPs after myocardial infarction [35].