Ing diet-induced atherosclerotic process] [28]; (iv) HH treated with EPCs after induction of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia (as regression group), HHfin-EPCs [fed as HH group for 4 months and then injected via the retro-orbital plexus with 16105 EPCs (isolated from C group) in one dose per month during the other 4 months; (v) HH treated with PMPs, HH-PMPs, [fed as HH group for 4 months and injected via the retro-orbital plexus with 16105 PMPs (isolated from HH group) in one dose perPreparation of Platelet-free Plasma (PFP), the Source for Circulating PMPsPlasma PMPs were separated according to the method reported by Georgescu et al. [5,26]. Briefly, the procedure consists in collection of venous blood in 0.138 M tri odium citrate 9/1 (vol/vol), centrifugation at 10006g for 15 min, at 15uC and separation of platelet rich plasma (PRP). PRP was centrifuged at 25006g for 15 min, at 15uC and the PFP obtained was centrifuged again at 13 0006g for 5 min at 15uC allowing collection of PMPs in the supernatant.PMP SortingPMPs were sorted from PFP according to Georgescu et al. [5,26] using specific antibodies to integrin aIIb (M 148) PE (for CD41) and annexin V FITC (for PS) and the MoFlo flow cytometer (Dako, USA) equipped with high-speed cell sorter. The number of PMPs was adjusted at 16105/ml in PBS.Platelets, EPCs and AtherosclerosisFlow CytometryFreshly isolated platelets were suspended in modified TyrodesHEPES buffer containing 0.35 BSA according to the method reported by Bergmeier et al. [30] and Alexandru et al. [27]. Suspensions containing the same number of platelets, (i.e 56105 cells) were incubated with antibody to integrin beta 3 (ML 264 site Phycoerythrin) at dark and room temperature, for 30 min. The reaction was stopped by adding paraformaldehyde (PFA) (final concentration 1 ), and samples were analyzed for 10 000 events each with the MoFlo flow cytometer (Dako,USA).Platelet Supernatant PreparationPlatelet supernatant was obtained according to the method described by Dernbach et al. [4]. Isolated platelets as above were resuspended in HEPES buffer (,16106 platelets/mL) and were activated by centrifugation at 10.0006g, for 10 min. The supernatant thus obtained was used for cytokine/chemokines assay.SDS-PAGE and Immunoblotting Detection of Platelet ProteinsPlatelet protein analysis was performed as previously reported [27]. The intensity of protein bands on blots was evaluated using TL100 1D computer program from Nonlinear Dynamics, (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK).Cytokine/Chemokines and Growth Factors AssaysPlatelet supernatants isolated as described above were used to measure the concentration of the following molecules: SDF-1, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), Regulated upon Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed, and Secreted (RANTES), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet factor 4 (PF4), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, R D Systems, Wiesbaden) using the specific kits according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Briefly, samples were added in each well of a 96-well microtiter plate coated with antibody anti-specific ckemokine, and incubated for 1 or 2 hours at room temperature. After washing, adding of MedChemExpress I-BRD9 conjugate, substrate and stop solution, the optical density at 450 18325633 nm was measured using a spectrophotometer (TECAN, InfiniteM200PRO, Austria).dL and 217.66624.98 mg/dL), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (89.2461.58 mm Hg and 60.2.Ing diet-induced atherosclerotic process] [28]; (iv) HH treated with EPCs after induction of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia (as regression group), HHfin-EPCs [fed as HH group for 4 months and then injected via the retro-orbital plexus with 16105 EPCs (isolated from C group) in one dose per month during the other 4 months; (v) HH treated with PMPs, HH-PMPs, [fed as HH group for 4 months and injected via the retro-orbital plexus with 16105 PMPs (isolated from HH group) in one dose perPreparation of Platelet-free Plasma (PFP), the Source for Circulating PMPsPlasma PMPs were separated according to the method reported by Georgescu et al. [5,26]. Briefly, the procedure consists in collection of venous blood in 0.138 M tri odium citrate 9/1 (vol/vol), centrifugation at 10006g for 15 min, at 15uC and separation of platelet rich plasma (PRP). PRP was centrifuged at 25006g for 15 min, at 15uC and the PFP obtained was centrifuged again at 13 0006g for 5 min at 15uC allowing collection of PMPs in the supernatant.PMP SortingPMPs were sorted from PFP according to Georgescu et al. [5,26] using specific antibodies to integrin aIIb (M 148) PE (for CD41) and annexin V FITC (for PS) and the MoFlo flow cytometer (Dako, USA) equipped with high-speed cell sorter. The number of PMPs was adjusted at 16105/ml in PBS.Platelets, EPCs and AtherosclerosisFlow CytometryFreshly isolated platelets were suspended in modified TyrodesHEPES buffer containing 0.35 BSA according to the method reported by Bergmeier et al. [30] and Alexandru et al. [27]. Suspensions containing the same number of platelets, (i.e 56105 cells) were incubated with antibody to integrin beta 3 (Phycoerythrin) at dark and room temperature, for 30 min. The reaction was stopped by adding paraformaldehyde (PFA) (final concentration 1 ), and samples were analyzed for 10 000 events each with the MoFlo flow cytometer (Dako,USA).Platelet Supernatant PreparationPlatelet supernatant was obtained according to the method described by Dernbach et al. [4]. Isolated platelets as above were resuspended in HEPES buffer (,16106 platelets/mL) and were activated by centrifugation at 10.0006g, for 10 min. The supernatant thus obtained was used for cytokine/chemokines assay.SDS-PAGE and Immunoblotting Detection of Platelet ProteinsPlatelet protein analysis was performed as previously reported [27]. The intensity of protein bands on blots was evaluated using TL100 1D computer program from Nonlinear Dynamics, (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK).Cytokine/Chemokines and Growth Factors AssaysPlatelet supernatants isolated as described above were used to measure the concentration of the following molecules: SDF-1, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), Regulated upon Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed, and Secreted (RANTES), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet factor 4 (PF4), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, R D Systems, Wiesbaden) using the specific kits according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Briefly, samples were added in each well of a 96-well microtiter plate coated with antibody anti-specific ckemokine, and incubated for 1 or 2 hours at room temperature. After washing, adding of conjugate, substrate and stop solution, the optical density at 450 18325633 nm was measured using a spectrophotometer (TECAN, InfiniteM200PRO, Austria).dL and 217.66624.98 mg/dL), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (89.2461.58 mm Hg and 60.2.