Fig. 3

Transplantation of sTNFRII-MSC alleviates the pathological signs of CIA in mice. sTNFRII-MSC was transplanted into CIA mice after the onset of arthritis. a Body weight was measured every week from day 0 to 57 (n = 8). b, c The AI (b) and SJC (c) were monitored every 3 d from day 28 to 57 (n = 8). ^##p < 0.01 versus normal group; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 versus CIA group; ^&p < 0.05 versus sTNFRII-MSC group; d Representative photomicrographs of joint general appearance and histopathology. Scale bars: 100 μm. e Evaluation of histopathologic grading of joints (n = 5). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 versus CIA group; ^&p < 0.05 versus sTNFRII-MSC group. f Representative photomicrographs of spleen histopathology. Scale bars: 100 μm g Evaluation of histopathologic grading of spleen (n = 5). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 versus CIA group; ^&p < 0.05 versus sTNFRII-MSC group. h, i The effect of sTNFRII-MSC on thymus index (h) and spleen index (i) was shown based on the ratios of thymus/spleen weight to mouse body weight (n = 8). j, k The effect of sTNFRII-MSC on B cell (j) and T cell (k) proliferation induced by Con A and LPS separately in CIA mice was detected by CCK-8 assays (n = 8). l The effect of sTNFRII-MSC on specific chick type II collagen induced splenic CD4⁺ T cell proliferation (n = 5). Data are presented as the mean ± SD values. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01