MSCs promoted axonal outgrowth via tPA alone and synergistically with astrocytes under conditions of oxygen deprivation.

<p>Primary neurons were cultured in microfluidic chambers for 3 days at normoxia. Then, the microfluidic chambers were moved into an anaerobic chamber for 2 hrs. Astrocytes and/or MSCs were seeded in axon side of the chambers and cultured for another 2 days at normoxia. Total axon length (μM/field) was quantified and compared. <b>(A):</b> Representative immunofluorescent images of WT axons from co-culture of WT axons with MSCs and/or WT astrocytes and quantitative data at oxygen deprivation. <b>(B)</b>: Representative immunofluorescent images of tPA-KO axons from co-culture of tPA-KO axons with MSCs and/or tPA-KO astrocytes and quantitative data at oxygen deprivation. N = 10-12/group. Scale bar = 100 μm. *p<0.05. Neu = neuron, Ast = astrocyte, MSC = mesenchymal stromal cell, WT = wild type, KO = tPA knockout. 1: Neu-WT, 2: Neu-WT+MSC, 3: Neur-WT, 4: Neu-WT+Ast-WT+MSC, 5: Neu-KO, 6: Neu-KO+MSC, 7: Neu-KO+At-WT and 8: Neu-KO+Ast-WT+MSC.