Fig 6. Effect of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC) treatment on serum and stifle synovial fluid chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 8 (CXCL8) and stifle synovial fluid interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin 6 (IL-6).

(A) Median serum CXCL8 concentration was significantly increased at 8 weeks after MSC treatment, compared with diagnosis. Median serum CXCL8 was also higher at 4 weeks, compared with diagnosis. (B) Synovial CXCL8 concentrations were similar at diagnosis and at 8 weeks in both stifles. (C) Suppression of synovial fluid IFNγ was evident in both stifles after intra-articular and intravenous injection of BM-MSCs, particularly the partial cruciate rupture stifle that was injected with BM-MSCs. Serum IFNγ was not significantly influenced by treatment. (D) High concentrations of synovial IL-6 were identified in the stable partial cruciate rupture stifles, when compared with the unstable stifles with cruciate ligament rupture. Median concentrations of synovial IL-6 were lower after BM-MSC treatment in both stifles. As the y axis is logarithmic in C and D, only values greater than zero are plotted.