Fig. 5: MSCs activate 5-HT neurons via brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). | Nature Communications

Fig. 5: MSCs activate 5-HT neurons via brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

From: Mesenchymal stromal cells alleviate depressive and anxiety-like behaviors via a lung vagal-to-brain axis in male mice

Fig. 5

a Venn diagram showing that the factors secreted by MSCs are involved in regulating neuron activation, major depression, and anxiety disorders. b Representative immunofluorescence images from three independent experiments showing that MSCs in the lungs activated phosphorylated TrkB (p-TrkB) in VGLUT2 nerves. Scale bar, 50 µm. c Representative image and quantification of western blot showing that MSC injection increased the level of p-TrkB in the lungs. Two-tailed t test: t = 4.324, df = 4, * P = 0.0124. n = 3 biologically independent samples. d Schematic diagram showing the experimental procedures used for MSC treatment and drug inhalation. qRT-PCR analysis (e), flow cytometric analysis (f), and western blot analysis (g) confirming the siRNA-mediated downregulation of BDNF in MSCs. n = 3. e one-way ANOVA: F(2, 6) = 209.6 **** P = 0.0000028. g one-way ANOVA: F(2, 6) = 21.07 ** P = 0.0019. n = 3 biologically independent samples. h Representative stained images of 5-HT and c-Fos colocalization in each group. Scale bar, 100 µm. i Statistical analysis of 5-HT and c-Fos colocalization. One-way ANOVA: F(3, 16) = 209.6 **** P = 0.0000030. n = 5 mice. j Representative immunofluorescence images of 5-HT and c-Fos colocalization in each group. Scale bar, 100 µm. k Statistical analysis of 5-HT and c-Fos colocalization. One-way ANOVA: F(2, 12) = 209.6 *** P = 0.00028. n = 5 mice. Illustrations created with BioRender.com. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

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