Fig. 1

MenSCs exert an important in vitro anti-microbial effect, which is associated in part with the increased expression of hepcidin. MenSCs and BMSCs were evaluated in their capacity to inhibit bacterial proliferation. a Direct inhibition of the bacterial proliferation. Cells were cultured in direct contact with a bacterial mixture. After 6 hours, the CM was collected and plated on blood-agar plates. Values are expressed as CFUs per milliliter. b Indirect inhibition of bacterial proliferation. CM of cells cultured with or without bacterial stimulation was collected and their antimicrobial activity was tested by the incubation with a bacterial mixture. Values are expressed as CFUs per milliliter. c Relative expression of hepcidin. The mRNA expression levels of hepcidin under both basal and stimulated conditions are determined by qRT-PCR. d Inhibition of hepcidin by hypoxia. The mRNA expression levels of hepcidin under normoxic and hypoxic culture conditions in basal and stimulated MenSCs are determined by qRT-PCR. e Direct inhibition of the bacterial proliferation under hypoxic conditions. MenSCs were cultured in direct contact with a bacterial mixture under normoxic and hypoxic conditions for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the CM was collected and plated on blood-agar plates. Values are expressed as CFUs per milliliter. Data are presented as the mean ± standard error. BMSCs bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, CFU colony-forming unit, CM conditioned medium, MenSCs menstrual derived mesenchymal stem cells, ns non-significant, qRT-PCR quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction