Figure 6

Combination treatment promotes a shift from the Th1 to Th2 cytokine balance in EAE mice. Sera were isolated from the five groups of EAE mice 40 days after immunization. Cytokine protein-expression levels in the serum were quantified with ELISA. (A) Stereologic analysis demonstrated a significant decrease of IFN-γ/TNF-α Th1 cytokines in the hBM-MSCs or minocycline-treatment groups compared with PBS treatment, and a similar expression pattern was evident in the combination-treatment group compared with hBM-MSCs or minocycline treatment-alone groups. (B) Significant increases were present in IL-4 and IL-10 protein-expression levels in the hBM-MSCs or minocycline-treatment groups compared with PBS treatment, and the same pattern was evident in the combination-treatment mice compared with hBM-MSCs or minocycline treatment alone. Columns, mean; bars, SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni corrections. The results are representative of three independent experiments.