Fig. 3

Decidua-derived mesenchymal stem cell (DMSC) treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) promotes anti-inflammatory T-cell profile. Total spleen cell population (a, b) or purified CD4⁺ cells (c) from EAE animals were obtained at day 10 p.i. Cells from each group were pooled and stimulated in vitro by anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies or by MOG_35–55 peptide as indicated; dashed lines designate unstimulated cell cultures. Each sample was assayed in quintuplicate. Proliferation and soluble cytokines released to the medium were measured by the MTT colorimetric method and ELISA, respectively. RNA from anti-CD3/anti-CD28-stimulated CD4⁺ cells was used for RT-qPCR reactions to evaluate mRNA expression levels of cytokines (d) or RORγT and GATA-3 transcription factors (e). Results are shown from one representative out of five independent experiments. Significance was analyzed by t-test; standard error of the means are shown. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. IL Interleukin, MOG Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, OD Optical density