Fig 2: PDGF-BB is able to rescue the protein expression levels of the proliferation and proliferation-associated genes of interest studied in the BM-MSCs from patients with NMO. (A) The protein levels of AREG, CCNA2, CDKN2A and Fas in BM-MSCs from patients with NMO treated with PDGF-BB (20 ng/ml) were detected using western blot analysis. Representative results are presented. The protein levels of the BM-MSCs from samples #5, #6 and #7 (pertaining to the patients with NMO) were assessing by western blotting following treatment with PDGF-BB. (B) Relative protein expression levels of AREG, CCNA2, CDKN2A, Bcl-xl and Fas. For the western blot analysis, the protein bands were statistically analyzed with ImageJ software and ß-actin was used as an internal control. Results are presented as the mean ± standard deviation of three independent experiments and each experiment was performed in triplicate. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 vs. the healthy controls. PGDF-BB, platelet-derived growth factor-BB; BM-MSC, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell; NMO, neuromyelitis optica; AREG, amphiregulin; CCNA2, cyclin A2; CDKN2, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A; PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor.

Fig 3: YAP knockdown induced apoptosis of Jurkat cells. (A) Apoptosis was analyzed by FCM using double staining with FITC-labeled Annexin V and 7-AAD at 24 h. Cells undergoing early apoptosis are Annexin V-FITC+/7-AAD-(lower right quadrant), whereas cells undergoing late apoptosis are Annexin V-FITC+/7-AAD+ (upper right quadrant). (B) Apoptosis analyzed by FCM at 48 h. (C) Apoptosis as represented by a bar chart. Quantitative data was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and multiple comparisons between different groups were performed using the Student-Newman-Keuls method (**P<0.01 YAP-shRNA vs. NC group). (D) Quantitative analysis by measuring the relative mRNA expression levels of BCL2 or BCL2L1 to ß-actin. Data are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. *P<0.05 vs. the NC group. (E) Other pro-apoptotic or anti-apoptotic associated genes expression profile. (F) Western blotting analysis of BCL2 or BCL2L1 protein expression. FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate; YAP, yes associated protein; FCM, flow cytometry; BCL2, B cell lymphoma 2; BCL2L1, BCL2 lie protein 1; CASP, caspase; TRADD, tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1-associated DEATH domain; FAS, tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 6; FADD, FAS associated death domain; NC, negative control; sh, short hairpin.