Fig. 7

The effect of LIPUS stimulation on immune response of chronic EAM mice. A M-mode echocardiography images, quantification of EF and FS were shown to evaluate the cardiac function of EAM mice (n = 5). B HE and MASSON staining for the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition of EAM hearts. Scale: 500 μm (top) and 50 μm (bottom). Representative HE and MASSON staining images of indicated groups. Bar graphs on the right show quantitation of data (n = 5). C The expression of BNP, MMP2 and MMP9 in heart of EAM mice with or without LIPUS-0.35 MPa (n = 3). Representative FACS quantification of Treg and macrophage percentage of splenic (D) or heart (E) isolated immune cells from EAM mice under LIPUS-0.35 MPa stimulation until day 56 (n = 5). ^* Represents control vs. EAM; ^# represents LIPUS-0.35 MPa vs. EAM; ⁺ represents LIPUS-0.35 MPa vs. control. (Data were shown as the mean ± SD, Student’s t-test for two-group comparison and one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test for comparison of multiple groups; ^#P or ⁺P < 0.05, ^**P or ^##P < 0.01, ^***P or ^###P < 0.001.) LIPUS: low-intensity pulsed ultrasound; EAM: experimental autoimmune myocarditis; EF: ejection fraction; FS: fractional shortening; HE: hematoxylin and eosin; FACS: fluorescence activated cell sorting; MMP2: matrix metallopeptidase 2; MMP9: matrix metallopeptidase 9; BNP: B-type natriuretic peptide