Fig. 1

Transplantation of UC-MSCs relieves SLE phenotypes in MRL/lpr mice. a A scheme of UC-MSC transplantation procedures; b the survival status of MRL/lpr mice; c Spleen index of MRL/lpr mice after MSCs therapy; d Serum anti-dsDNA antibodies of MRL/lpr mice; e 24-h urinary protein (μg) post-MSCs transplantation. f Representative images of renal interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration (HE original magnification ×200) and aberrant mesangial, cell proliferation (PAS original magnification ×400); “*” represents interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration, the arrow “ → ” indicates vessels, and “$” means mesangial and cell proliferation. g The scores of glomerular pathologies; h Interstitial inflammation scores. Data are shown in “mean ± SD.” For b–e PBS (n = 12, death n = 5), UC-MSCs (n = 7, death n = 0). For f–h PBS (n = 7), UC-MSCs (n = 7). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. MSCs, umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells; PBS, phosphate buffered saline