Fig. 2.

hDPSCs suppress osteoarthritic macrophages without intercellular contact. In the current study, a Transwell chamber system was used to separate hDPSCs (lower compartment) from macrophages (upper compartment). hDPSCs markedly suppressed the expression of stimulatory molecules, including CD11b and CD86 in the Transwell chamber system (a, b). In addition, hDPSCs significantly prevented the mRNA and secretion level of macrophage derived immune factors, including TNF-α and IL-12b, and promoted IL-10 expression without direct cell-cell contact (mRNA expression in c and protein secretion in d), *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001. hDPSCs, human dental pulp stem cells; IL-12b, interleukin 12; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor α; IL-10, interleukin 10