Mesenchymal stem cells alleviate TNBS-induced colitis by modulating inflammatory and autoimmune responses

Figure 6 Changes in mRNA expression and colonic protein levels of Th1-related inflammatory mediators following treatment with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. A-D: Real-time polymerase chain reaction. Acute TNBS colitis demonstrated a cytotoxic and chemotactic profile with significantly elevated mRNA expressions of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and T-bet when compared to controls. Preventive treatment with BMSCs reduced the levels of the above cytokines; E-G: Flow cytometry. The changes in colonic protein levels of IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α followed the same trend; H: Western blotting. The changes in colonic protein levels of T-bet followed the same trend. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs control; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01 vs TNBS-PBS. TNBS-MSC: Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-mesenchymal stem cells; TNBS-PBS: Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-phosphate-buffered saline.