Figure 2.

Adipose-derived MSCs alleviated clinical symptoms of autoimmune dacryoadenitis. Rabbits with autoimmune dacryoadenitis were injected intravenously with PBS (untreated group) or with 1 × 10⁷ rabbit ADSCs (ADSC-treated group) every other day starting on day 1 after transfer of activated PBLs. (A) Tear production. Schirmer test was performed at 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after first ADSC administration. (B) Tear break-up time demonstrates tear instability. Slit-lamp examination was performed in control, untreated, and ADSC-treated group. (C) Images and scores of fluorescein staining. Detection of ocular surface defects due to deficiency in preocular tear film protection was evaluated with fluorescein staining (top), and the intensity of staining of the cornea was scored (bottom). (D–J) Histologic analysis of lacrimal glands in rabbits. (D–I) The representative photographs (H&E staining) of lacrimal glands in untreated, ADSC-treated, and control rabbits are shown. (D, E) Substantial lymphocytic infiltration in the lacrimal glands of untreated group. Arrows indicate lymphocytic foci in the typical periductal and perivascular distribution (>2 foci per 4 mm² of this representative LG section. The area (∼6 mm²) of the section (×40) examined was measured from the photographs, by using CellSen software. (F, G) Reduced lymphocyte infiltration in the lacrimal glands of the ADSC-treated group (<1 focus per 4 mm² of this representative LG section). The area (∼9 mm²) of the section (×40) examined was measured from the photographs, by using CellSen software. (H, I) Occasional small lymphocytic aggregates in normal control group. (J) The numbers of lymphocytic foci in lacrimal glands were evaluated as described in Materials and Methods. The number of foci per 4 mm² is shown. Data are presented as mean ± SD (A, B, C, J), n = 3. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. Data are representative of three independent experiments (A–J), six rabbits per group in each experiment.