Fig. 3

Western blot analysis for FOXP3, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Nrf2, cleaved caspase 3, p53 and p21. a Representative western blot showing no significant Foxp3 expression in spinal cord tissues from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice as well as in the naive group. Foxp3 levels were appreciably increased in tissues from EAE mice administered with human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs). **p < 0.0066 vs naive; **p < 0.0038 vs EAE. b Also evident is a notable increase in TNF-α release in samples collected 56 days after EAE induction, attenuated by administration of hPDLSCs. Naive mice did not show expression of TNF-α. *p < 0.0148 vs naive; *p < 0.0192 vs EAE. c Western blot analysis for Nrf2 showed a basal level of Nrf2 expression in samples obtained from naive mice. EAE mice did not show expression of Nrf2, while treatment of mice with hPDLSCs significantly increased Nrf2 expression. *p < 0.0282 vs naive; **p < 0.0096 vs EAE. Western blot analysis for d p53 and e p21 showed a significant expression of p53 as well as p21 in samples collected 56 days after EAE induction when compared to the naive group. Conversely, levels of p53 and p21 were clearly reduced by administration of hPDLSCs. **p < 0.0018, **p < 0.0061 vs naive; *p < 0.0395 vs EAE; **p < 0.0052 vs naive; *p < 0.0060 vs EAE. f The activation of cleaved caspase 3 was evaluated. EAE caused a significant increase in cleaved caspase 3 expression. On the contrary, treatment with bioactive hPDLSCs prevented the EAE-induced caspase 3 expression. ****p < 0.0001 vs naive; ****p < 0.0001 vs EAE. GAPDH was used as the internal control. ND not detectable