Figure 5.

Complete inhibition of Tfh cells and full induction of iNOS in hUC-MSCs were dependent on direct cell-to-cell contact with CD4⁺ cells. CD4⁺ T cells from spleens of B6.lpr mice were cocultured with hUC-MSCs directly or in a Transwell system. (A) The frequency of CXCR5⁺ PD-1^hi Tfh cells (n = 4). (B) The mRNA expression (n = 4) and protein level of iNOS in hUC-MSCs. (C) Western blot analysis of protein kinase B (Akt), p65, IκBα, signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)1, Stat3, Stat5, and their phosphorylation forms. ^*p < 0.05; ^**p < 0.01; ^***p < 0.001. Western blot data were representative of three independent experiments, and other data were pooled from three independent experiments. GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.