N = the number of animals. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052058.tPlatelets, EPCs and AtherosclerosisFigure 2. Representative immunoblots and densitometric data for the platelets from hamster groups: control (C), hypertensive-hypercholesterolemic (HH), prevention (HHin-EPCs), regression (HHfin-EPCs), HH 1326631 treated with PMPs (HH-PMPs) and HH treated with EPCs and PMPs (HH-EPCs-PMPs). (A): pFAK, FAK, (B): p85 subunit of PI3K, b- actin, (C): p-src, src. (*) Groups vs Control: p#0.05. (**) Groups vs HH: p#0.05. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052058.gtants. The results show that compared to C group, the values for VEGF were increased by ,1.26-fold in HH group, ,1.40-fold in HH-PMPs group and ,1.08-fold in HH-EPCs-PMPs group. The concentrations measured in HHin-EPCs and HHfin-EPCs groups were similar to de value in C group. Compared to HH group, in HHin-EPCs, HHfin-EPCs and HH-EPCs-PMPs groups, the values for VEGF were reduced by ,1.42-fold, ,1.34-fold and ,1.16-fold. In platelets isolated from HH+PMPs group the value for VEGF was enhanced by ,1.12-fold comparative with HH group (Table 2). Compared to C group, the analysis of PDGF-AB concentration in platelet supernatants isolated from HH, HH-PMPs and HHEPCs-PMPs groups revealed an augmentation of: ,1.46-fold, ,1.73-fold and ,1.66-fold, respectively (Table 2). In samples from HHin-EPCs and HHfin-EPCs, PDGF-AB values were comparable to these in C group. Compared to HH group, the values for platelet supernatant from these groups we reduced by ,1.47-fold in HHin-EPCs and ,1.41-fold in HHfin-EPCs. Conversely, the platelet supernatants in HH-PMPs and HHEPCs-PMPs groups displayed a slightly increase of PDGF-AB concentration by ,1.18-fold and ,1.14-fold respectively (Table 2). Platelets are the primary hematopoietic cell accumulating within a growing thrombus, where they release the TFPI, which is the main physiologic inhibitor of tissue factor, the initiator of blood coagulation. Measurement of TFPI concentration in platelet supernatants isolated from hamster groups showed a reduction compared to C group, of ,1.28-fold (for HH), ,1.39-fold (for HH-PMPs) and ,1.13-fold (for HH-EPCs-PMPs) (Table 2). Compared to C group, TFPI in HHin-EPCs and HHfin-EPCs groups is slightly increased i.e. ,1.19-fold, and ,1.10-fold, respectively. Compared to HH group, the enhancement observed in HHin-EPCs, HHfin-EPCs and HH-EPCs-PMPs group, was of ,1.52-fold, ,1.41-fold and ,1.135-fold, respectively. The platelet supernatant isolated from HH-PMPs group showed a slight decrease in TFPI of ,1.08-fold, compared to HH group. The above results indicate that EPC administration in hypertension associated with hypercholesterolemia reduces the levels of pro-inflammatory molecules SIS3 web secreted by activated platelets and improves the amount of TFPI released by platelets. Moreover, PMP administration induces a general augmentation of secreted molecules, except for TFPI level, that is diminished.Estimation of Cytokine/Chemokines 871361-88-5 web protein ExpressionThe results of immunoblotting experiments revealed that compared to C group (n = 6), in platelets isolated from HH group, protein expressions for SDF-1 and MCP-1 were increased by ,19.31-fold (n = 4) and ,2.59-fold, respectively (n = 8) (Fig. 3A). Compared to C group, in platelets isolated from the HHin-EPCs and HHfin-EPCs groups, SDF-1 expressions (n = 4) were unchanged, while MCP-1 expressions (n = 6) were slightly increased by ,1.36-fold, and 21.26-fold, respectively (Fig. 3A). Compared to HH group, bot.N = the number of animals. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052058.tPlatelets, EPCs and AtherosclerosisFigure 2. Representative immunoblots and densitometric data for the platelets from hamster groups: control (C), hypertensive-hypercholesterolemic (HH), prevention (HHin-EPCs), regression (HHfin-EPCs), HH 1326631 treated with PMPs (HH-PMPs) and HH treated with EPCs and PMPs (HH-EPCs-PMPs). (A): pFAK, FAK, (B): p85 subunit of PI3K, b- actin, (C): p-src, src. (*) Groups vs Control: p#0.05. (**) Groups vs HH: p#0.05. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052058.gtants. The results show that compared to C group, the values for VEGF were increased by ,1.26-fold in HH group, ,1.40-fold in HH-PMPs group and ,1.08-fold in HH-EPCs-PMPs group. The concentrations measured in HHin-EPCs and HHfin-EPCs groups were similar to de value in C group. Compared to HH group, in HHin-EPCs, HHfin-EPCs and HH-EPCs-PMPs groups, the values for VEGF were reduced by ,1.42-fold, ,1.34-fold and ,1.16-fold. In platelets isolated from HH+PMPs group the value for VEGF was enhanced by ,1.12-fold comparative with HH group (Table 2). Compared to C group, the analysis of PDGF-AB concentration in platelet supernatants isolated from HH, HH-PMPs and HHEPCs-PMPs groups revealed an augmentation of: ,1.46-fold, ,1.73-fold and ,1.66-fold, respectively (Table 2). In samples from HHin-EPCs and HHfin-EPCs, PDGF-AB values were comparable to these in C group. Compared to HH group, the values for platelet supernatant from these groups we reduced by ,1.47-fold in HHin-EPCs and ,1.41-fold in HHfin-EPCs. Conversely, the platelet supernatants in HH-PMPs and HHEPCs-PMPs groups displayed a slightly increase of PDGF-AB concentration by ,1.18-fold and ,1.14-fold respectively (Table 2). Platelets are the primary hematopoietic cell accumulating within a growing thrombus, where they release the TFPI, which is the main physiologic inhibitor of tissue factor, the initiator of blood coagulation. Measurement of TFPI concentration in platelet supernatants isolated from hamster groups showed a reduction compared to C group, of ,1.28-fold (for HH), ,1.39-fold (for HH-PMPs) and ,1.13-fold (for HH-EPCs-PMPs) (Table 2). Compared to C group, TFPI in HHin-EPCs and HHfin-EPCs groups is slightly increased i.e. ,1.19-fold, and ,1.10-fold, respectively. Compared to HH group, the enhancement observed in HHin-EPCs, HHfin-EPCs and HH-EPCs-PMPs group, was of ,1.52-fold, ,1.41-fold and ,1.135-fold, respectively. The platelet supernatant isolated from HH-PMPs group showed a slight decrease in TFPI of ,1.08-fold, compared to HH group. The above results indicate that EPC administration in hypertension associated with hypercholesterolemia reduces the levels of pro-inflammatory molecules secreted by activated platelets and improves the amount of TFPI released by platelets. Moreover, PMP administration induces a general augmentation of secreted molecules, except for TFPI level, that is diminished.Estimation of Cytokine/Chemokines Protein ExpressionThe results of immunoblotting experiments revealed that compared to C group (n = 6), in platelets isolated from HH group, protein expressions for SDF-1 and MCP-1 were increased by ,19.31-fold (n = 4) and ,2.59-fold, respectively (n = 8) (Fig. 3A). Compared to C group, in platelets isolated from the HHin-EPCs and HHfin-EPCs groups, SDF-1 expressions (n = 4) were unchanged, while MCP-1 expressions (n = 6) were slightly increased by ,1.36-fold, and 21.26-fold, respectively (Fig. 3A). Compared to HH group, bot.
