Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells alleviate TNBS-induced colitis in rats by influencing intestinal epithelial cell regeneration, Wnt signaling, and T cell immunity

Figure 4 Effect and mechanism of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell administration in rats with TNBS-induced colitis. A: mRNA from colonic extracts was analyzed by qRT-PCR for the major molecules in the canonical Wnt signaling pathway: Wnt3a, Fz3, and β-catenin; B: mRNA from colonic extracts was analyzed by qRT-PCR for the major molecules in the noncanonical Wnt signaling pathway: Wnt5a, Fz5, and Ror2. Expression is presented as a ratio of cytokine/β-actin; C: Apoptosis of colonic cells was visualized by a TUNEL assay (scale bar: 20 μm), and semiquantitative analysis was performed; D: The expression of caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase 3 was evaluated by Western blot and compared among the control, CD, and GFP-ADSC therapy groups. Quantification is expressed as the fold induction. Data are presented as the mean ± SD. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs control group; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01 vs CD group. ADSCs: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells; CD: Crohn’s disease; GFP: Green fluorescent protein.