Figure 3.
The homing capacity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and Ad-sTβR-MSCs. (a) Time-line for the experiment in vivo. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), MSCs (5 × 105), and Ad-sTβR-MSCs (1.25 × 108 PFU, 5 × 105 cells) were injected into female mice immediately and 14 days after radiation, and detections were carried out on day 30 after radiation. (b) Quantification of MSCs rates in different tissues of irradiated mice with MSCs treatment by real-time PCR analysis. The MSCs levels in the lungs were served as control (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, n = 5–6). (c) Quantification of MSCs and Ad-sTβR-MSCs in lungs by real-time PCR analysis. The mice without radiation were injected with MSCs or Ad-sTβR-MSCs, and served as controls (ns, not significant; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, n = 5-6). (d) The migration of MSCs and Ad-sTβR-MSCs toward DMEM, uninjured lungs and the lungs from mice 30 days after radiation therapy (RT) (RT 30d lung), as determined by transwell assays (#P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01, RT 30d lung versus uninjured lung in each group; ns, not significant; n = 5–6). (e) SDF-1α levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and plasma were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 30 days after radiation (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, n = 5–6). (f) Quantification of MSCs and Ad-sTβR-MSCs levels in lungs 30 days after irradiation with administration of AMD3100 (200 µg in 250 µl PBS per dose, three times per week) (ns, not significant; n = 5-6). (g) The migration of MSCs and Ad-sTβR-MSCs in the presences of SDF-1α (100 ng/ml) or plus AMD3100 (100 µg/ml) were determined by transwell assays. (ns, not significant; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, n = 5–6).