Combined mesenchymal stem cell transplantation and interleukin-1 receptor antagonism after partial hepatectomy

Figure 8 Assessment of apoptosis seven days after hepatectomy. Apoptotic cells were visualized by TUNEL staining in A: Normal, sham-operated control; B: After hepatectomy; C: With MSC transplantation; D: Treatment with IL-1Ra; and E: Combined MSC transplantation and IL-1Ra (magnification × 100; scale bar = 20 μm); F: Percentage of TUNEL-positive cells relative to the total cell count was used to estimate the apoptosis rate. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs hepatectomy model group; ^dP < 0.01 vs hepatectomy + MSCs + IL-1Ra combination therapy group. IL-1Ra: Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist; MSC: Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation; TUNEL: Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling.