Effect of MSC transplantation on serum hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 levels.

<p>Cytokines were analyzed by ELISA on days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 and 28 after MSC or vehicle injection. The levels of hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in the SP group was relatively steady (P>0.05). Compared to the SP group, hs-CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly increased in the VP group from 1d to 28d. All three cytokines were also higher in the MSC group compared to the SP group except for TNF-α on 7–28 d; IL-6 on 2, 3 and 28 days; and IL-10 on 1–2 d. MSCs significantly reduced the levels of these three cytokines compared with the VP group (P < 0.05), except IL-6 on 1d and 28 d (A,B,C). After plaque induction, IL-10 was significantly higher in the VP group than SP group from 3–28 d. MSC transplantation further increased IL-10 from 1 to 28d compared with the SP and VP groups (P < 0.05) (D). *,compared with SP group, P < 0.05; #, compared with VP group, P < 0.05; a, comparison with 1 d, P < 0.05; b, compared with 2 d, P < 0.05; c, compared with 3 d, P < 0.05; d, compared with 7 d, P < 0.05; e, compared with 14 d, P < 0.05.