Figure 5.
A graphical depiction of cell culture is depicted showing the interaction between Tregs, BMSCs, and neural cells (astrocytes and neurons). BMSCs are shown to be neuroprotective by promoting neuron survival (green arrows, +) and attenuating astrocyte activation (red arrows, −). Tregs are shown to potentially have a dualistic, concentration-dependent effect on BMSCs. At the native concentration, Tregs relatively decrease BMSC IL-6 production, a potentially deleterious pro-inflammatory cytokine. BMSC FGF-β production, a cytokine related to BMSC survival, proliferation, and differentiation, is reduced in a concentration-dependent manner with Treg co-culture.
BMSC: bone marrow-derived stem cell.