Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes alleviate experimental colitis by maintaining the intestinal barrier and remodeling macrophage polarization

Figure 7 Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes regulate macrophage phenotype via the Janus kinase 1/ signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 signaling pathway. A-D: Western blot analysis of Janus kinase (JAK) 1, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1, and phospho-STAT1 (p-STAT1) protein expression in colon tissues; E-H: Western blot analysis of JAK1, STAT1, and p-STAT1 protein expression in RAW264.7 cells treated with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hucMSC-Ex); I-L: Determination of interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, transforming growth factor-β, and Mrc1 mRNA expression by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction after STAT1 inhibition followed by hucMSC-Ex administration; M and N: Determination of protein expression of p-STAT1 and STAT1 by Western blot after STAT1 inhibition followed by hucMSC-Ex administration. Data are presented as the mean ± SD. Each experiment was repeated three times independently (n = 8 mice per group). ^aP < 0.05. ^bP < 0.01. NS: No significance; NC: Negative control; DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium; hucMSC-Ex: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes; JAK: Janus kinase; STAT: Signal transducer and activator of transcription; p-STAT: Phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription; M^PBS: Phosphate-buffered saline treatment; M^LPS: Lipopolysaccharide + interferon-γ treatment; M^IL-4: Interleukin-4 + interleukin-13 treatment; Ex: Exosomes; PBS: Phosphate-buffered saline; IL: Interleukin; mRNA: Messenger RNA; TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; TGF: Transforming growth factor; STAT1 inh: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 inhibitor.