Fig. 5

Keratinocyte-derived cytokine (KC), macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), and lipopolysaccharide-inducible CXC (LIX) expression in the mouse model of peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell mobilization. a, b Plasma cytokine analysis was performed in the mouse model on day 7. Levels of KC, MIP-2, and LIX (IL-8 homologs in mice) were measured (G-CSF only, n = 9; cyclophosphamide + G-CSF, n = 9; etoposide + G-CSF, n = 9). KC levels significantly increased in the etoposide-treated group, compared with those in the cyclophosphamide-treated group (p = 0.001 after Bonferroni correction). Levels of the other IL-8 homologs, MIP-2 and LIX, were also increased in the etoposide-treated group but did not show significant differences compared to the cyclophosphamide-treated group. c, d, e To confirm local changes in KC, MIP-2, and LIX in the bone marrow, we quantified IHC images using the IHC profiler plugin of the ImageJ. KC increased significantly in the etoposide-treated group, compared to that in the G-CSF-only and cyclophosphamide-treated groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 after Bonferroni correction, respectively). Levels of the other IL-8 homologs, MIP-2 and LIX, increased significantly in the etoposide-treated group, compared to those in the G-CSF-only group and cyclophosphamide-treated group (MIP-2, p = 0.004 and p < 0.001 after Bonferroni correction, respectively; LIX, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 after Bonferroni correction, respectively). Note: *** p < 0.001 after Bonferroni correction; ** p < 0.01 after Bonferroni correction. Note: Values are reported as the mean ± SEM. Abbreviations: G-CSF, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; CY, cyclophosphamide; ETO, etoposide; n.s., not significant; IHC, immunohistochemistry