spleen-derived EPCs.

<p>EPCs showed endothelium-like cobblestone morphology with characteristic formation of clusters (A). Blue particles are clearly visible in almost every labeled cell with Prussian blue staining (B). (Magnification ×200).</p

Histopathological analysis.

<p>Prussian blue staining showed blue particles of Fe₂O₃-PLL labeled EPCs distributing in subendothelium (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0020790#pone-0020790-g007" target="_blank">Figure 7A, 7B</a> indicated 5, 10 days after endothelium injury respectively). <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0020790#pone-0020790-g007" target="_blank">Figure 7C</a> showed crescentic neointima of injured artery in 2 animals of non-EPC transfusion group. (Magnification ×200).</p

Vessel wall area (mm²) of LCCA measured on T₂WI at different time points.

<p>There was no significant difference of vessel wall area among the three groups 1 day and 5 days after artery injury. However, vessel wall area of labeled EPC transfusion group was significantly less than that of unlabeled EPC transfusion group and control group at 15 days after artery injury. Vessel wall areas of EPCs transfusion group were significantly less than that of non-EPC transfusion group at 15 days after artery injury.</p

Endothelial cell characteristics.

<p>After 7 days culture (A), cells taken up DiI-ac-LDL were red fluorescence (B), bound to FITC-UEA-I displayed green fluorescence (C), and the double-stained cells showed yellow fluorescence in cytoplasm (D). (Magnification ×200).</p