Fig. 1

Characterization of EPCs. The serum level of lipid in the normal control mice and ApoE^−/− mice after PBS and EPC treatment. Expanded adherent cells could take up (b) BS-1 lectin and bind to (a) DiI-acLDL as shown by the red and green fluorescence. c Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Merged images showed that most cells were (d) dual-positive. Dual positive cells were defined as EPCs. The serum level of cholesterol (CHOL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the normal control mice, ApoE^−/− mice fed on a high-fat diet with PBS or EPC treatment (e-f, **P < 0.01; n.s., non-significant; HFD, high fat diet). Bars represent mean ± standard deviation