Use of Self-Assembling Peptides to Enhance Stem Cell Function for Therapeutic Angiogenesis

Figure 5

(a) Fluorescent TUNEL staining and (b) quantification of TUNEL-positive stains for the evaluation of apoptosis for MSCs, RADA, MSCs + RADA, and control. There is a statistically significant lower rate of apoptosis in the MSC + RADA group compared to MSCs or RADA alone. (c) Representative Masson’s trichrome staining showing fibrosis between muscle fibers (10x magnification) and (d) quantification of degree of fibrosis from immunohistochemical stains for the evaluation of fibrosis for MSCs, RADA, MSCs + RADA, and control. There is an overall tendency for lower fibrosis formation in the MSC + RADA group compared to MSCs or RADA alone. Lower degree of fibrosis and apoptosis correlates with an improvement in limb perfusion from increased angiogenesis. for control versus all other groups. .

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