Fig. 2

MSCs improved blood-brain barrier integrity. MSC effects on BBB integrity, assessed by Evans blue dye leakage at a 6 dpi, b 7dpi, and c 15 dpi. d Representative images demonstrating the presence of erythrocytes in the brain parenchyma of PbA-infected mice with SAL and the absence of them with MSC treatment at 7dpi. DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole)-stained nucleus in blue and erythrocytes autofluorescence in red. C, control; PbA, Plasmodium berghei ANKA; CQ, chloroquine; SAL, saline; MSC, mesenchymal stromal cell. Data presented as mean ± SEM. N = 5–8 mice per group. *P < 0.05 vs. C and ^#P < 0.05 vs. PbA+CQ+SAL by t test or one-way analysis of variance