Figure 3

mRNA expression of perforin, granzyme B and TNF-α among the different NK cells’ activation compartments. Semi-quantitative analysis of TNF-α (A), perforin (B) and granzyme B (C) gene expression for each cell activation stage phenotypically identified on NK cells: non-activated (CD69^-CD25^-), earlier activated (CD69⁺CD25^-) and activated (CD69⁺CD25⁺). * Differences statistically significant (P <0.05, Mann–Whitney and Wilcoxon paired-sample test). AT, adipose tissue; BM, bone marrow; MNC, mononuclear cells; MSCs, mesenchymal stem cells; PHA, phytohemagglutinin; UCM, umbilical cord matrix.