Fig. 6

Effect of BM-hMSC on cytokines in the LTZ-induced PCOS mouse model. Relative gene expression of a IL-10 (Il10) and b IL-10R (Il10r) in the ovary from control, untreated PCOS, and BM-hMSC-treated PCOS mice. c Serum levels of inflammatory regulatory markers by antibody-based membrane assay. Fold change of serum d IL-10, e INF-γ, and f TIMP-2 in control, PCOS, and BM-hMSC-treated PCOS mice. g Pro-inflammation marker mRNA expression of IL-6 (Il6), IL-1β (Il1b), CCL2 (Ccl2), and CD11c (Cd11c) in untreated and BM-hMSC-treated PCOS mice adipose tissue. h Schematic of the proposed model for BM-hMSC therapeutic effect in PCOS. A positive stimulation loop between inflammation, androgen production, and metabolic abnormalities could lead to PCOS. BM-hMSC alleviate the inflammation via secretion of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, which suppresses androgen secretion by ovarian theca cells. Those effects in turn can improve the metabolic abnormalities. Regulation of inflammation through IL-10 leads to improved fertility in PCOS. *p<0.05, **p<0.005; NS, not significant. All graphs are presented as the mean ± SD (n≥3). Statistical significances were determined by 2-way ANOVA or nonparametric T-test (Mann-Whitney test) using GraphPad Prism 9