Figure 2

MSCs inhibit Th1 and Th17 differentiation depending on the stage of activation and cell ratio. The differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells was measured by intracellular detection of IFN-γ and IL-17 positive cells, respectively, from purified CD4-T cells differentiated into Th1 and Th17 cells in the presence or absence of MSCs at different stages of activation and different MSC:Th ratios (left: representative dot plot: 1:10 upper panels and 1:100 lower panels). ** = P <0.01 and * = P <0.05, n = six for Th1 and n = seven for Th17. Values represent means ± SED for six and seven independent experiments for Th1 and Th17 cells, respectively. MSCD0, D2 and D4 = MSC added at day 0, 2 and 4 of the differentiation process, respectively. MSCs, mesenchymal stem cells; Th, T helper.