Analysis of cardiac function by echocardiography (A, n = 5) and catheterization (B, n = 5). Anti–VLA-4 Ab treatment inhibited the reduction of LVDd, LVDs, and LVEDP and the improvement of FS and +dp/dt by CPC sheet transplantation. Isotype Ab was used as a control. ^†P < 0.05 versus anti–VLA-4 Abs (n = 5 per group). ^‡P < 0.01 versus anti–VLA-4 Abs (n = 5 per group). (C) Masson trichrome staining. The fibrotic area 4 weeks after transplantation was calculated and is shown in the graph (n = 5). Anti–VLA-4 Ab treatment inhibited the reduction of fibrotic area following CPC sheet transplantation. Lower panels show representative images. Scale bars: 1 mm. (D) vWF staining. The number of vWF-positive vessels in the border area was counted and is shown in the graph (n = 5). Anti–VLA-4 Ab treatment inhibited the increased number of vessels in the border area following CPC sheet transplantation. Lower panels show representative images. Scale bars: 100 μm. Nuclei were stained with hematoxylin. (E) RFP staining. The number of RFP-positive cells (brown) was counted and is shown in the graph (n = 5). Anti–VLA-4 Ab treatment decreased the number of RFP⁺ cells in the infarcted area following CPC sheet transplantation. Lower panels show representative images. Nuclei were stained with hematoxylin. Scale bars: 100 μm. Data are shown as mean + SEM.