Fig. 3

MSC administration reduced elevated COX-2 in lung tissue. a Lung sections were prepared, and immunofluorescence was used to assess the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2; green) using a fluorescence microscopy. TO-PRO 3-staining nuclei (blue) were also shown. Images show representative data from one of four individual experiments. The COX-2 levels in lung tissue were measured by immunohistochemistry assay. There was a significant increase in COX-2 protein in the sepsis group compared with the sham group. COX-2 expression was decreased in the sepsis + mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) group compared with the LPS group (n = 5 per group, ×100 magnification). b Lung tissues were scraped into a homogenate and analyzed by Western blotting for the expression of COX-2. COX-2 expression was increased in the sepsis group and decreased after MSC administration. Data represent the mean ± SEM, n = 5. ^### p < 0.001, versus the sham group; ***p < 0.001, versus the sepsis group