Fig. 2

ADSC administration suppressed the inflammatory response following SCI. ADSC treatment decreased the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α (a), IL-6 (b), and IL-1β (c) in the spinal cord tissue at 3 days post-SCI (n = 5; the data are expressed as the mean ± SD; *P < 0.05 versus the Sham group, ^#P < 0.05 versus the ADSC group). Representative images of double immunohistochemical staining of IBA1 and GFAP (d) and of ED-1 and GFAP (f) in different groups. Representative images were taken at the boundary of the injury. e Histological images (H&E staining) of longitudinal sections of the uninjured spinal cord and spinal cords at 28 days post-SCI with different treatments. The quantification of the ED-1-positive (f), IBA1-positive (g), and GFAP-positive (h) areas (n = 4; the data are expressed as the mean ± SD; *P < 0.05 versus the control group, ^#P < 0.05 versus the ADSC group). i The cavity area calculated based on H&E staining (n = 4; the data are expressed as the mean ± SD; *P < 0.05 versus the control group). Scale bars = 50 μm (d, f); scale bars = 200 μm (e)