Figure 2. M2 macrophage treated EAN. (a) M-CSF and IL-4 induced M2 macrophages. On the 8th day after cultured in vitro, we evaluated the proportions of macrophages and M2 macrophages. According to flow cytometric analysis, the proportions of macrophages and M2 macrophages are 98.48% ± 0.189% and 94.60% ± 1.407%, respectively.(b) M2 macrophages treatment ameliorates the severity of EAN. We administered M2 macrophages (0.1 ml, 1×106 cells) to EAN rats via the caudal vein after immunization to the peak phase. The scores for the severity of EAN decreased in M2 treated group compared to rats in the control group (p﹤0.05 on each time point). Notably, in the M2 treated group, the duration of clinical symptoms were shorter than control group. (c-d) Percentage of M1 macrophages was reduced and the M2 macrophages was increased in spleen MNCs of M2 macrophages treated group compared to the control group. (e) M2 macrophages treatment had reduced the level of p-p65 in sciatic nerves of EAN mice on the peak phase when compared to the control group.(f) The levels of IL-17A, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α decreased greatly compared to the control group. No marked differences appeared for the expression of IL-12, IL-4, and IL-10 among the two groups. But the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 increased even there is no significant.