Figure 5.

Immunofluorescence staining of differentiation, proliferation, and immune antigen marker expression of transplanted MSCs. Rats were euthanized at 7, 14 and 28 days post-transplantation and their lungs and pancreas were obtained in the TVT and PST groups, respectively. Representative micrographs illustrate the expression of GFP (green, transplanted cells), immune antigens (red, CD86 and MHC II), a proliferation marker (red, PCNA) and a differentiation marker (red, insulin) in the lung and pancreas tissues of recipients. GFP⁺ MSCs were visible in all samples. By day 7, the expression of CD86, MHC II, PCNA and insulin was negative (a). However, expression of MHC II (b) and insulin (c) was observed at 14 and 28 days post-transplantation. Blue indicates nuclear staining with DAPI. MSC, mesenchymal stem cell; PST, pancreas subcapsular transplantation; TVT, tail vein transplantation.