Fig. 1. Study design. (A) Dose-escalation test protocol. The hUCB-MSCs are transfused at 1 week after MCT injection. UA group (n=5) was assigned to receive high-dose hUCB-MSCs (3×106 cells/rat), UB group (n=5) was intermediate-dose hUCB-MSCs (1.5×106 cells/rat) and UC group (n=6) was low-dose hUCB-MSCs (3×105 cells/rat). (B) Treatment time test protocol. Low-dose (3×105 cells/rat) of hUCB-MSCs were transfused at day 1 (UD group, n=4), day 1+week 1 (UE group, n=4) or week 1 (UF group, n=4). MCT, monocrotaline; hUCB-MSCs, human umbilical cord blood derived-mesenchymal stem cells; UD, early treatment of low dose hUCB-MSCs at day 1; UE, dual transfusion of low dose hUCB-MSCs at day 1 and week 1; UF, reversal treatment of low dose hUCB-MSC at week 1.
