Fig. 5
The inhibitory capacity of Ad-hMSCs on aGVHD severity was augmented by rapamycin treatment. a Recipient BALB/c (B/c) mice received 5 × 106 bone marrow cells and 1 × 107 splenocytes from B6 (allogeneic) or B/c mice (syngeneic) after lethal irradiation with 800 cGy. On day 1 post BMT, allogeneic BMT recipient mice received intravenous administration of Ad-hMSCs, rapamycin-treated Ad-hMSCs, or saline (control). Mice with aGVHD were monitored for weight, clinical signs, and the ability to survive. Combined data from two independent experiments (n = 12 per group) are shown. Improvements in the clinical aGVHD score after allogeneic BMT was assessed in terms of (reduced) weight loss, posture, activity, fur texture, and skin integrity. * P < 0.05 (b) Pathology scores (upper panel) and histopathology of the liver, skin, and intestine after BMT (n = 12 per group); the photographs were taken from one of two independent experiments. The sections were stained with H & E (original magnification × 200). The upper panel shows the mean scores of the liver, skin, and intestine of four groups. Results are expressed as means ± SD. * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001. Ad-hMSCs adipose tissue-derived human mesenchymal stem cells, aGVHD acute graft-versus-host disease, BMT bone marrow transplantation