Fig. 3 | Cellular & Molecular Immunology

Fig. 3

From: Mesenchymal stromal cells counteract with age-related immune decline and enhance vaccine efficacy by modulating endogenous splenic marginal reticular cells in elderly models

Fig. 3The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

MSCs enhanced vaccine efficacy and protected against influenza infection in aged mice. A Quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine immunization schedule. B, C Statistics of the splenic length and splenic cell count in the nonvaccine (Non vac), vaccine-immunized control (Ctrl vac) and vaccine-immunized groups after MSC administration (MSC+Vac), n = 4 mice per group. D Statistical analysis of splenic lymphocyte counts in the nonvac, Ctrl vac, and MSC+Vac groups; n = 3 mice per group. E Flow cytometry analysis of splenic germinal center B-cell populations (B220+IgD−GL7+) in the nonvac, Ctrl vac, and MSC+Vac groups; n = 3 mice per group. F Statistical analysis of splenic germinal center B-cell counts in the nonvac, Ctrl vac, and MSC+Vac groups; n = 3 mice per group. G Representative immunofluorescence images of B lymphocytes (B220+, red) and germinal centers (PNA+, green) in the nonvac, Ctrl vac, and MSC+Vac groups; n = 4 mice per group. Scale bars: 30 μm. H Concentrations and titers of serum soluble IgG antibodies after 28 days of immunization in the nonvac, Ctrl vac, and MSC+Vac groups; n = 4 mice per group. I Titers of serum vaccine-specific antibodies were measured via a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test after 28 days of immunization in the nonvac, Ctrl vac, and MSC+Vac groups; n = 5 mice per group. J H1N1 virus (A/PR8) influenza infection aged mouse model was established after receiving or not receiving quadrivalent split influenza vaccine immunization. K Body weight changes in the groups of uninfected aged mice (Vehicle and MSC vehicle) and infected aged mice (Ctrl PR8 and MSC + PR8) over 14 days. L Survival analysis of the groups of uninfected aged mice (Vehicle and MSC vehicle) and infected aged mice (Ctrl PR8 and MSC + PR8) over 14 days; n = 5 mice per group. M Analysis of wet lung weights in mice on day 14 after influenza virus infection in the groups of uninfected aged mouse groups (Vehicle and MSC vehicle) and infected aged mouse groups (Ctrl PR8 and MSC + PR8), n = 3 mice per group. N Analysis of virus titers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of the lungs of uninfected aged mice (Vehicle and MSC vehicle) and infected aged mice (Ctrl PR8 and MSC + PR8) on day 14 after influenza virus infection; n = 3 mice per group. O Representative immunohistochemical (IHC) hematoxylin‒eosin (HE) staining of lung tissue and clinical score analysis P of mice on day 14 after influenza virus infection in the groups of uninfected aged mice (Vehicle and MSC vehicle) and infected aged mice (Ctrl PR8 and MSC + PR8). Scale bars: 250 μm. Q Analysis of the levels of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)) in the lung BALF of the mice on day 14 after influenza virus infection in the groups of uninfected aged mice (Vehicle and MSC vehicle) and infected aged mice (Ctrl PR8 and MSC + PR8), n = 3 mice per group. R Analysis of serum inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-1β) in mice on day 14 after influenza virus infection in the groups of uninfected aged mice (Vehicle and MSC vehicle) and infected aged mice (Ctrl PR8 and MSC + PR8), n = 3 mice per group. The data represent the means ± SEMs of three or more independent experiments. Statistical significance was determined via one-way ANOVA with multiple comparisons. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001. ns not significant

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