Figure 5.

Injection of MSC^CXCR5 Attenuates CHS In Vivo

(A) Representative photos and H&E-stained ear samples from mice of each group. 72 hr post-injection, ear tissues were collected, paraffin-embedded, sectioned, and stained with H&E. Photos were taken of at least six sections per tissue. Scale bars, 100 μm. (B) Ear swelling response (mean ± SEM). The degree of swelling was calculated as the thickness of the right ear (challenged ear) minus the baseline thickness of the left ear (unchallenged ear). Control mice were challenged with 0.2% DNFB without prior sensitization. Experimental mice were injected i.v. with 1 × 10⁶ MSC^CXCR5 or MSC^EGFP on day 2 of CHS. n = 6 mice/group from three independent experiments. (C) MPO activity was examined by colorimetric assay of ear tissue homogenates obtained from each group during DNFB-induced CHS (72 hr post-injection). Data are presented as the mean ± SEM for individual mice. **p < 0.01. (D) The mRNA levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-10 were analyzed by qRT-PCR. mRNA was extracted from the inflamed ears of each group 72 hr post-injection. GAPDH was detected as an internal mRNA control. The results are representative of three experiments. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. (E) The concentrations of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-10 in homogenates of inflamed ears obtained from each group 72 hr post-injection were determined by ELISA. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM for each group. n = 6 mice/group from three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.