Fig. 4.

Effect of hypoxia-preconditioned MSCs (MSCs^HYP, MSCs^HYP→APO, MSCs^HYP+APO) on the induction of Tregs and polarization of helper T cells from pro-inflammatory (Th1, Th17) to anti-inflammatory (Th2) phenotype. The Th1 phenotype is marked by CD45RA⁻ CCR7⁻ CXCR3⁺ CCR4⁻ CCR6⁻ CXCR5⁻ CCR10⁻, Th2 is marked by CD45RA⁻ CCR7⁻ CXCR3⁻ CCR4⁺ CCR6⁻ CXCR5⁻ CCR10⁻, and Th17 is marked by CD45RA⁻ CCR7⁻ CXCR3^+/− CCR4⁺ CCR6⁺ CXCR5⁻ CCR10⁻.The bar graph represents (A) the induction of CD3⁺ CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FOXP3⁺ Tregs (n = 5). (B) the ratio of Th1/Th2 (n = 5). (C) Th1/Th17 ratio (n = 5) in the direct co-culture of MSCs and T cells. Data shown represent the Mean ± S.D of 5 independent experiments performed with PBMNCs derived from 5 different donors (biological replicates), with each experiment conducted in triplicate (technical replicates). Statistical analysis: Tukey’s multiple comparisons test; ***≤0.001; ****≤0.0001. Abbreviations: BM: Bone marrow; WJ: Wharton’s Jelly; MSCs: Mesenchymal stem cells; HYP: Hypoxia-preconditioned; APO: Apoptosis, Tregs: Regulatory helper T cells, Th: Helper T cells