Fig. 4

Cell transplantation suppressed the inflammatory response following SCI. Images of HE staining in the different groups at dpo 7 (A, B), dpo 14 (C, D) and dpo 28 (E, F). M&N group appeared a prominent lower level of inflammatory cell infiltration compared to the Con group at dpo 14 (G). The injured are size in Con and M&N group at dpo 28 and dpo 14 were significantly decreased compared to those at dpo 7, and the sizes in M&N group was significantly lower than that in the Con group at dpo 14 and dpo 28 (H). Scale bar, 100μm. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. At the same time, the neuronal edema in the M&N group (O) was also alleviated compared with the Con group (P) under TEM. Demyelination was pronounced in the Con group (Q, q) compared with the M&N group (R, r). Scale bar, 5μm. The mRNA levels of IL-6, TNF-a, and VEGF in spinal cord tissue were assessed by RT-qPCR, and their serum levels were measured using ELISA analysis (I–N). The data are presented as the means ± SEM; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001