Figure 2.
hPSC-EMSCs increase endogenous NPC population and promote neurogenesis in HIE brain more effectively than hUC-MSCs. The third day after HI (PN 10), 2 × 105 hUC-MSCs or hPSC-EMSCs (derived from H7 or iPSCs) in 5 µL of PBS or vehicle were infused into the ipsilateral hemisphere. A) Representative immunofluorescent staining images of nestin and Sox2 in HIE rats in SVZ. Focused area in the SVZ is shown with a magnified view (inset) demonstrating nestin or Sox2 positive cells (green, arrowhead). The intensity of nestin and Sox2 was evaluated in 3-4 consecutive section (6 dpi, bregma -1.7 mm; 10 dpi, bregma -2.0 mm) and within 450 µm from the SVZ to indicate predominant newborn cells, which had migrated from the SVZ, scale bar: 100 µm. Quantification data represent mean ± SEM (6 dpi, sham: n = 3, PBS: n = 6, hUC-MSCs: n = 5, hPSC-EMSCs: n = 6; 10 dpi, sham: n = 3, PBS: n = 5, hUC-MSCs: n = 5, hPSC-EMSCs: n = 6). *, **, ***, **** represent p < 0.05, 0.01, 0.001 and 0.0001 respectively by Tukey's post-hoc test when statistical significance by One-way ANOVA (p < 0.05) was obtained; B) mRNA expression levels of Pax6 and Sox2 in HIE brain tissue collected from PBS-, hUC-MSCs- and hPSC-EMSCs-treated rats on 6 dpi. hPSC-EMSC transplantation significantly increased the expression of neural progenitor gene (Sox2) and neuron precursor gene (Pax6) in the hippocampal region more effectively than hUC-MSCs. Quantification data represent mean ± SEM, n = 4. *, **, ***, **** represent p < 0.05, 0.01, 0.001 and 0.0001 respectively by Tukey's post-hoc test when statistical significance by One-way ANOVA (p < 0.05) was obtained.