Figure 3.

hNPC Transplantation Restricts T Cell and Macrophage Infiltration into the CNS

(A–C) Spinal cords from hNPC-treated and control mice were removed at 3 weeks pt, and infiltrating cells were immunophenotyped by flow staining for defined surface antigens (A) Infiltration of total CD4⁺ T cells and virus-specific CD4⁺ cells was reduced in hNPC-treated mice compared to controls. In addition, infiltration of CD8⁺ cells and virus-specific CD8⁺ T cells (B) was also reduced in hNPC-transplanted animals compared to controls. (C) Macrophage (F4/80⁺CD45^high) accumulation in spinal cords was reduced in hNPC-transplanted mice compared to control mice. Representative flow dot blots are shown in (A), (B), and (C). Bar graphs are representative of at least two independent experiments with a minimum of four mice per experimental group; data are presented as averages ± SEM. Paired t tests were used to determine the p values.

(D and E) hNPC-mediated clinical recovery was not associated with increased spinal cord viral burden as determined by plaque assay (D) and quantitative PCR analysis of viral RNA (E). For results in (D) and (E), data are representative of at least two independent experiments with a minimum of three mice per experimental group. Data in (E) represent averages ± SEM. Mann-Whitney t tests were used to determine the p values.