Fig. 2

Gingival-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) attenuate the inflammatory responses in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice via a Fas/FasL pathway. a Schema showing GMSC infusion in CIA mice. b Arthritis severity scores were determined at various time points after immunization. c Arthritis severity score system using a 5-point scale: representative images of swollen hind paws ranging from normal (left) to grossly swollen (right). d, e Histological analysis of paw joints of PBS (Control), GMSC derived from WT mice (GMSC-WT), FasL^–/– GMSC- (FasL ^–/–), and FasL TF GMSC (FasL TF)-treated mice using hematoxylin and eosin staining (original magnification × 40) and score. Serum concentrations of f tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and g anti-CII IgG, analyzed by ELISA; n = 6 in each group. The animal experiments were performed in three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. Values are given as mean ± SEM. CFA complete Freund’s adjuvant, CII collagen type II, N.S. not significant