Fig 2: MPSS-loaded stent-grafts reduced inflammatory cells infiltration and expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and P-selectin in endothelial cells. A Cell staining positive for MPO in each group, bar =100 μm; B Semi-quantitative analysis of MPO-positive cells in each group; C Cell staining positive for CD68 in each group, bar =100 μm; D Semi-quantitative analysis of CD68-positive cells in each group; E Cell staining positive for ICAM-1in each group, bar =100 μm; F Semi-quantitative analysis of ICAM-1-positive cells in each group. G Cell staining positive for VCAM-1 in each group, bar =100 μm; H Semi-quantitative analysis of VCAM-1-positive cells in each group. I Cell staining positive for P-selectin in each group, bar =100 μm; J Semi-quantitative analysis of P-selectin-positive cells in each group; K Western blotting of porcine aortic tissues for the relative expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and P-selectin in each group; L, K and N Semi-quantitative analyses of ICAM-1/β-actin, VCAM-1/β-actin and P-selectin/β-actin in each group. The data are expressed as mean ± SD. Statistical significance:* P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001. MOD, mean optical density

Fig 3: Mtp alleviates the inflammatory response of HUVECs. HUVECs were pretreated with 100 µM Mtp for 24 h, followed by incubation with 100 µM H2O2 for 12 h. The levels of secreted proinflammatory cytokines (A) IL-6, (B) TNF-α and (C) MCP-1 were determined by performing ELISAs. (D) The protein expression levels of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were measured via western blotting. (E) The mRNA expression levels of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were measured via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. ***P<0.001 vs. control; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 and ###P<0.001 vs. H2O2. Mtp, monotropein; HUVEC, human umbilical vein endothelial cell; MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; VCAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1; ICAM-1, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1.

Fig 4: Overexpression of SMS2 increased monocyte adhesion in HUVECs. The overexpression of SMS2 enhances monocyte adhesion in HUVECs. (A) The adhesion rate of HUVECs to THP-1 cells. (B) The protein expression of MCP-1, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were detected by western blot analysis. Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation (n=3). *P<0.05 and **P<0.001 vs. control group; #P<0.05 vs. CH group. Magnification, ×20; HUVECs, human umbilical vein endothelial cells; VCAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1; ICAM-1, intracellular adhesion molecule 1; MCP-1, monocyte chemotactic protein 1; SMS2, sphingomyelin synthase 2; C, control group; S, SMS2 overexpression group; CH, control group treated with H2O2 for 24 h; SH, S group treated with H2O2 for 24 h.

Fig 5: Mtp anti-inflammatory effects are reversed by PMA. (A) NF-κB and AP-1 protein expression levels were measured via western blotting. (B) HUVECs were treated with PMA for 12 h, and NF-κB and AP-1 protein expression levels were determined via western blotting. The levels of secreted proinflammatory cytokines (C) IL-6, (D) TNF-α and (E) MCP-1 were determined by performing ELISAs. (F) The protein expression levels of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were measured via western blotting. **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 vs. control; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 and ###P<0.001 vs. H2O2. Mtp, monotropein; PMA, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; AP-1, activator protein-1; HUVEC, human umbilical vein endothelial cell; MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; VCAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1; ICAM-1, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1.