Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Display Impaired Function in Inhibiting Th17 Cells

Figure 3

Proliferative potential, cellular apoptosis, and migration ability of RA MSCs. (a) Proliferation curves of control MSCs and RA MSCs. Optical density was measured at 450 nm. The graph represents the mean ± SEM of 3 controls versus 3 RA patients. (b) Apoptotic rate of control MSCs and RA MSCs ( in both groups). (c) Protein expression of p21 in control MSCs and RA MSCs. (d) Representative images of MSC migration as determined by transwell assay (crystal violet staining, magnification ×200). Some of the migrated cells are illustrated by yellow arrows. (e) Quantification of migrated cells per field ( in both groups). (f–j) mRNA levels of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), integrin β1, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) in control MSCs and RA MSCs ( in both groups). ; n.s., no significant difference.

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