Figure 3

Cell-specific attenuation of end-organ damage in LPS mice by BMSC-CM. One day following LPS and CM administration, tissue was harvested for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Sections were analyzed for detection of tubular degeneration in kidney, inflammation in the lungs, hepatocellular vacuolation and degeneration of the liver. Magnifications are x20. (a) The renal cells of the healthy kidney appear to be unperturbed in contrast with the pale and poorly defined cells of the LPS-treated mouse. The ASC-CM kidney presents with similarly pale renal cells, whereas the BMSC-CM kidney resembles the healthy control. (b) Alveoli are generously and evenly distributed in the healthy lung compared to the LPS-treated group, which appears more constricted. The BMSC-CM treated lungs also present with expansive and unaffected alveoli, but the ASC-CM treated lungs are clearly devastated: alveoli are significantly smaller and sparser. (c) The healthy liver shows few signs of inflammation. The LPS-treated liver has swollen hepatocytes with affected nuclei. Many unhealthy cells appear in the ASC-CM treated liver as well. The BMSC-CM treated liver appears to have fewer necrotic hepatocytes. (d) Histological slides were blindly scored by a pathologist. (P < 0.05).