Effect of Hoxa3 on diabetic-derived Gr-1⁺CD11b⁺ cell function. (A) Migration assays of diabetic-derived Gr-1⁺CD11b⁺ cells transfected with mCherry or Hoxa3-mCherry toward VEGF, MIP-2, and MCP-1. (B) Adhesion assays of diabetic-derived Gr-1⁺CD11b⁺ cells (overexpressing Hoxa3-mCherry or mCherry alone) on TNF-α–activated endothelial cells. (C) Gene expression profile of diabetic Gr-1⁺CD11b⁺ cells overexpressing Hoxa3-mCherry or mCherry alone assessed by qRT-PCR. (i) Expression of M1 and M2 macrophage markers. (ii) Expression of angiogenic factors Vegf and Mmp-9. (iii) Expression of Hoxa3 and a representative Hoxa3 target gene, Cdc42. Error bars represent SEM, *P ≤ .05, **P ≤ .01, ***P ≤ .001.