Fig. 4

hBMSCs induced PBMCs differentiation into Th17 and Treg cells, thereby elevating IL-17A and TGF-β levels in the co-culture supernatants. PBMCs from healthy donors were divided into six groups and co-cultured with or without SU-DHL-2/4 cells and/or hBMSCs, and SU-DHL-2/4 cells with hBMSCs were selected as two control groups. All six groups containing PBMCs were co-cultured with IL-2 (100 IU/ml) for 72 h and then detected by FACS. a and c Representative FACS plots of Th17 and Treg cell percentages in PBMCs from six groups. b and d Graphs of Th17 and Treg cell mean percentages from six groups. e, f, and g Graphs of the mRNA levels of related cytokines and transcription factors in the PBMCs from six groups. Levels of IL-17A (h), TGF-β (i), PGE2 (j), IL-6 (k), IL-10 (l), and IL-1β (m) in the co-culture supernatants of eight groups. Cytokines were detected by ELISA. The data shown represent one of three independent experiments. Error bars represent SD. Significance was determined using one-way ANOVA. (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01)