Figure 3.

Cell–cell analysis of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)–T cell microenvironment interaction. (A) Schematic of microwell array assay for probing immunosuppressive effects of MSCs on cocultured CD4 T cells. (B) Representative image of CD4 T cells (round cells) and MSCs (yellow arrow) in microwells. (C) Immunosuppressive effect of MSCs on T cell proliferation. Percentage increase in each selected well is defined as the difference between the number of T cells at 48 hours and the initial number of T cells, divided by the initial number of T cells. (D) Representative plot of secretory responses measured by microengraving from microwells containing CD4 T cells cocultured with (+) or without (−) MSCs for 48 hours. Rates of secretion: *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01; one-tailed Mann–Whitney U test. Data are representative of three independent experiments.

Abbreviations: PGE2,prostaglandin E2; IL-10, interleukin 10; TGF-1, transforming growth factor 1.