Fig. 4: Genetic expression analysis of the injured spinal cord tissues.

a Representative immunoblots showing expression of TNF-α, iNOS, MMP-9, TGF-β, BAX, IL-1β, and Arg-2 in the injury site 1 week after SCI (red font represents proinflammatory markers, blue font represents anti-inflammatory markers, and green font represents anti-apoptotic/inflammatory markers; GAPDH and Tubulin were used as loading controls). The experiment was repeated 3 times independently with similar results. b–h Quantitative analyses of the genetic expression levels of TNF-α (b), iNOS (c), TGF-β (d), MMP-9 (e), BAX (f), IL-1β (g), and Arg-2 (h) in the injury site. n = 3 animals chosen randomly from each group. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test and two-tailed paired t tests were used for comparisons between two groups. ANOVA for TNF-α: Total: F = 24.27, p < 0.0001, Control vs MN, p = 0.0164, Gel-EV vs MN-MSC, p = 0.0493. ANOVA for iNOS: Total: F = 3.178, p = 0.0468. ANOVA for TGF-β: Total: F = 43.96, p < 0.0001. MN-EV vs. MN-MSC, p = <0.0001. ANOVA for MMP-9: Total: F = 17.14, p < 0.0001. Control vs MN-MSC, p < 0.0001. ANOVA for BAX: Total: F = 11.18, p = 0.0003. Control vs MN-EV, p = 0.0391. MN-EV vs MN-MSC, p = 0.0373. ANOVA for IL-1β: Total: F = 6.960, p = 0.0029. MN-EV vs MN-MSC, p = 0.0178. ANOVA for Arg-2: Total: F = 9.560, p = 0.0007. MN-EV vs MN-MSC, p = 0.0388. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.