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Fig. 4 | Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Fig. 4

From: Human mesenchymal stromal/stem cells acquire immunostimulatory capacity upon cross-talk with natural killer cells and might improve the NK cell function of immunocompromised patients

Fig. 4

Inhibition of CCR2 attenuates the MSC-mediated activation of NK cells. a, b NK cells were treated with the CCR2 inhibitor RS102895 or with the solvent DMSO as control before they were cultured alone or in co-culture with MSCs for 24 h. Thereafter, the cells were stimulated with IL-12 and IL-18 and the supernatant was harvested after 24 h for quantification of IFN-γ. c, d Freshly isolated NK cells were treated with the CCR2 inhibitor RS102895 or with DMSO as control before addition of conditioned media (CM) from NK cells, MSCs, MSC/NK cell co-cultures, and cell-free medium. Thereafter, all cells were stimulated with IL-12 and IL-18 and the amount of IFN-γ in the supernatants was quantified. a, c Bar graphs showing mean ± SD of 4–5 replicates of one representative experiment. b, d Cumulative and normalized data of 4–5 independent experiments. One hundred percent was equivalent to median (interquartile range) 352 (285–386) pg/ml and 723 (371–816) pg/ml in (b) and (d), respectively. e CCL2 content in conditioned media from mono-cultures and co-cultures using MSCs from human nasal mucosa. f IFN-γ release from NK cells cultured alone or together with MSCs from human nasal mucosa each in the presence or absence of RS102895. Bar graphs showing mean ± SD of 4–5 replicates of one representative out of three independent experiments. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison test. ***p < 0.001. CCL2 C-C ligand 2, DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide, MSC mesenchymal stromal/stem cell, NK natural killer, IFN Interferon

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