Human mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord and bone marrow exert immunomodulatory effects in different mechanisms

Figure 3 Immunomodulatory effects of mesenchymal stem cells treated with combinations of cytokines. Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were stimulated with different combinations of interferon-gamma (5 ng/mL), tumor necrosis factor alpha (5 ng/mL), and/or IL-1β (5 ng/mL) for 72 h. A: Expression levels of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and cyclooxygenase-2 of cytokine-stimulated mesenchymal stem cells measured by western blotting; B and C: Expression levels of prostaglandin E2 (B) and interleukin-6 (C) in culture medium measured by ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed by Student’s t-tests, ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01; ^cP < 0.0001 vs first bar of each group. (B and C) BM-MSC: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells; IDO: Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase; IFN-γ: Interferon-gamma; IL-1β: Interleukin 1 beta; IL-6: Interleukin 6; ND: Not detected; PGE2: Prostaglandin E2; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor alpha; UC-MSC: Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells.