Fig. 6

Protective effect of ADMSC in STZ-induced diabetic mice through growth factors, immunomodulation, and the pancreatic DLK1-ERK-FoxO1 signaling cascade. a Growth factor (EGF) and pro- and anti-inflammatory transcripts (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10) were measured at the end of the experiment. A higher EGF expression and anti-inflammatory equilibrium was facilitated by ADMSC. b Decreased apoptosis after ADMSC administration through the anti-apoptotic (BCL-2) and BAX (apoptotic) molecule ratio was noticed in the IPR group. c Pancreatic gene expression of ERK, FoxO1, and DLK1 was determined with RT-PCR after 30 days to STZ injection in all the groups. STZ, streptozotocin; EGF, epidermal growth factor; FoxO1, forkhead box 1; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-alpha; IL-1β, interleukin 1 beta; IL-10, interleukin-10; BCL-2, B cell lymphoma 2; BAX, BCL-2-associated X protein; DLK1, delta-like non-canonical notch ligand 1; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinases; IPR, intrapancreatic route; IVR, intravenous route; no STZ and no MSC, control. Data show the mean ± SEM, n = 3 or 4. Value considered significant at p ≤ 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p ≤ 0.001