Fig. 2

Injection of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) prevents inflammation and bone destruction. Collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) mice were injected with ASCs three times every other day starting 3 days prior to (ASC pre group) or 4 days after (ASC post group) immunization with an anti-collagen type II antibody. As controls, wild-type mice were injected with saline (WT group) and CAIA mice were similarly immunized but not injected with ASCs (CAIA group). Each group comprised five mice. a Hind limbs were histologically evaluated by staining with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E; scale bar, 400 μm) or toluidine blue (scale bar, 200 μm) at 14 days after immunization. From this, the inflammation score (b) and joint destruction score (c) were determined. d Hind limbs were histologically evaluated by staining with TRAP at 14 days after immunization. From this, the percentage of TRAP-positive cells (e) and the area of these cells (f) were determined. All quantitative data show the mean ± standard error of the mean. *** p < 0.001 using Student’s t-test