Fig. 2

The immunomodulatory properties of iGMSCs are impaired. a In vitro co-culture system showed a significantly decreased capacity of iGMSCs to induce Annexin V⁺/7AAD⁺ T cell apoptosis when compared with the GMSC group. b Schema showing iGMSC and GMSC transplantation for treating dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced experimental colitis mice. c–e iGMSCs showed impaired immunomodulation capacity compared with GMSCs, as assessed by c amelioration of losing body weight, d decreased disease activity index (DAI), and e alleviation of colitis histologic activity index (HAI). f–h FACS analysis showed that the levels of Th1 and Th17 were significantly elevated while the levels of Tregs were significantly reduced in colitis mice compared with the control mice. iGMSC infusion exhibited compromised reduction of Th1 and Th17 cells and upregulation of Treg levels in colitis in mice than did GMSCs. i ELISA analysis showed that the levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and IL-17 in serum were markedly increased in colitis mice compared with the control mice at 10 days post-DSS induction. iGMSC infusion exhibited compromised ability to downregulate serum levels of TNF-α and IL-17 compared with GMSCs. n = 5 in each group. Scale bar = 200 μm. *P < 0.05. **P < 0.01. ***P < 0.005. Error bars: mean ± SD