CpG ODN stimulation in acute vascular injury.

<p>WT mice were injected with PBS (n = 4) or 3-30nM CpG ODN (n = 2) i.v., respectively. Activation of TLR9 with 30nM CpG ODN led to the highest plasma IL-6 concentrations in mice compared to vehicle controls (a). For the acute injury, WT mice (n = 12–13) were subjected to an electric denudation of the left carotid artery and received repetitive injections of 30nM CpG ODN or vehicle over 7 days (b). Reendothelialization was greatly impaired in TLR9-stimulated mice compared to vehicle controls (c, representative Evan’s blue stained photomicrograph; and d, quantitative). The number of circulating EMPs (e, n = 5) and the number of circulating sca-1/flk-1 positive cells (f, n = 5) were significantly increased in ODN treated mice. Gating strategy for FACS analysis is shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0146326#pone.0146326.s003" target="_blank">S3 Fig</a>. Data are presented as mean±SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using 2-tailed, unpaired students t-test. Scale bar 200μm in c. *p<0.05, **p<0.001, ***p<0.0001.