Fig. 3

Expression of inflammatory-related factors in the urinary bladder at 4 days after IC induction (n = 5). a Expression of the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) by Western blot in the bladder tissue was highest in the interstitial cystitis (IC) group compared to the IC + urine-derived stem cell (USC) group and normal control (N) groups; the biomarker expression in the IC + USC group was lower than in the IC group. b A statistical chart of the relative optical density of IL-6/GAPDH in each group (n = 5). c A statistical chart of the relative optical density of TNFα/GAPDH in each group (n = 5). d A statistical chart of relative optical density of NF-κB/GAPDH in each group (n = 5). e–g Photomicrograph images of hematoxylin and eosin staining in rat bladder samples (scale bars = 200 μm). h–j Representative photomicrograph images of rat bladder samples stained with toluidine blue (arrows) demonstrate mast cells (scale bars = 200 μm). k A statistical chart demonstrates the inflammation grading (n = 5). l A statistical chart reveals the number of mast cells in the bladder of rats (n = 5). *P < 0.05, versus the control group; ^# P < 0.05, versus the IC group