Fig. 3

Transplanted pericytes regulate vascular reactivity and permeability via Cx43 after sepsis. a Immunofluorescence by CLSM was used to monitor the PC^Cx43−down colonization on mesenteric microvascular networks in septic rats. Scale bars: 100 μm. b Changes in vascular response of mesenteric arterioles to NE and Ach in vivo after PC^Cx43−down transplantation (n = 8 rats). c Vascular leakage of mesenteric venules measured after PC^Cx43−down transplantation (n = 8 rats). Scale bars: 50 μm. d Immunofluorescence by CLSM was used to monitor the GFP-PC location on mesenteric venules at 24 h after sepsis in Tie2-Cre + Cx43^flox/flox mice. Scale bars: 20 μm. e Changes in vascular response of mesenteric arterioles to NE and Ach in vivo after sepsis in Tie2-Cre + Cx43^flox/flox mice (n = 8). f Vascular leakage of mesenteric venules measured after sepsis in Tie2-Cre + Cx43^flox/flox mice (n = 8). Scale bars: 20 μm. g 3D projection images of contact area on 24 h in the pericytes-VSMCs/VECs culture at a 1:9 pericyte:VSMCs/VECs ratio (PC group: pericyte with no-treatment; PC^Cx43−down group: infection of pericytes with shRNA adenovirus targeting Cx43; PC^vehicle group: infection of pericytes with control adenovirus). Pericytes, VSMCs/VECs and nuclei are shown in red, green and blue, respectively. Scale bars: 20 μm. CLSM confocal laser scanning microscopy, PC pericyte, NE norepinephrine, Ach acetylcholine, MA mesenteric arteriole, VECs vascular endothelial cells, VSMCs vascular smooth muscle cells. Data shown as mean ± SD. ^$P < 0.05, ^$$P < 0.01 vs. PC or PC (WT) (one-way ANOVA)