Fig. 2

Inflammatory priming and/or exposure to inflammatory macrophages does not impair MSC immunomodulatory function. Ability of MSCs to diminish mitogen-stimulated T-cell proliferation was compared to mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes alone (positive control), which was set to 100% T-cell proliferation. An increase in MSC immunomodulation was found in IFN-γ-primed MSCs, MSCs primed with IFN-γ followed by inflammatory macrophage exposure, and MSC priming with poly I:C followed by inflammatory macrophage exposure. Individual horses denoted by different colored dots. Box and whisker plots represent n = 8. Groups not sharing same uppercase letter are significantly different. p < 0.05; repeated-measures ANOVA, with horse as a random effect, followed by Tukey HSD test for multiple comparisons. MSC mesenchymal stem cell, poly I:C polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, IFN-γ interferon gamma