Fig. 1

The in vitro effect of MMP7 on Schwann cell proliferation. a-e Representative cell proliferation images of (a) non-treated Schwann cells (Con), b Schwann cells treated with MMP7 recombinant protein (MMP7), c Schwann cells transfected with siRNA control (si Con), d Schwann cells transfected with MMP7 siRNA1 (si1 MMP7), and (e) Schwann cells transfected with MMP7 siRNA2 (si2 MMP7). Scale bars represented 100 μm. f Relative MMP7 mRNA expression after transfection with siRNA control, MMP7 siRNA1, MMP7 siRNA2, and MMP7 siRNA3. Asterisks indicated significant different from siRNA control, * p-value < 0.05, n = 3. g Summarized proliferation rates of non-treated Schwann cells and Schwann cells treated with MMP7 recombinant protein. n = 3. h Summarized proliferation rates of Schwann cells transfected with siRNA control, MMP7 siRNA1, and MMP7 siRNA2. n = 3. i Schwann cells’ identification by histochemical staining. Specific marker S100 of Schwann cells is green, and Hoechst of nucleus is blue. Scale bars represented 100 μm and 20 μm respectively