Fig. 4

Vildagliptin inhibited LPS-induced EndMT in the absence of immune cells. a Phase-contrast micrographs of PVECs (CD31⁺/CD45⁻ cells) isolated from mice in the absence or presence of LPS (10 μg/ml for 144 h) and vildagliptin (10 nM)/ linagliptin (100 nM) treatment. The morphology of PVECs exposed to LPS changed to a spindle shape and vildagliptin or linagliptin treatment preserved the original morphology. Scale bars, 50 μm. b FCM analyses also revealed that the percentage of α-SMA⁺-PVECs significantly increased 144 h after LPS challenge and treatment by vildagliptin or linagliptin significantly suppressed this change (*P < 0.05, N = 5). Values are means ± SEM. c Immunocytochemistry revealed an increase in α-SMA⁺-PVECs 144 h after LPS challenge, and this increase was suppressed by vildagliptin or linagliptin. CD31, green; α-SMA, red; Hoechst, blue. Scale bars, 50 μm. Vilda; Vildagliptin, Lina; Linagliptin