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. 2012 Apr 4;7(4):e35036. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035036

Figure 2. Macrophage-secreted soluble factors induce IL-6 and CXCL10 secretion by MSCs.

Figure 2

Macrophages and MSCs have distinct cytokine secretion profiles that are variable and significantly dependent on the soluble factors and cells in their local environment. Both macrophages and MSCs are highly plastic and assume unique phenotypes when activated by paracrine factors. MSCs cultured in macrophage-conditioned medium for 24 hours assume a pro-inflammatory phenotype with increased secretion of IL-6 and CXCL10. Resting MSCs secrete 394 pg/mL and an undetectable amount of IL-6 and CXCL10, respectively. Upon activation by macrophage-conditioned medium, MSCs increased their secretion of IL-6 to 31,213 pg/mL and CXCL10 to 13,906 pg/mL. This represents a 56-fold increase in IL-6 (p<0.0001) and a 1.4-fold increase in CXCL10 (p<0.003). In addition, MSCs minimally increased the secretion of CCL5 by 1.2-fold from 287 pg/mL to 345 pg/mL (p <0.02).