Fig. 1

Effects of BM-MSC treatment on pain (A, estimated from VAS) and disability (B, estimated from WOMAC, general index), both quantified as % of the maximum. Values (mean ± s.e.m. of 8–9 values) before cell treatment (t = 0; in red), 1 year after treatment (t = 1 yr, in green) and 4 years after treatment (t = 4 yr, in blue) are compared in the controls (Gr. 1, hyaluronic acid) and in the cell-treated groups (Gr. 2 and Gr. 3, treated with either 10 or 100 million cells suspended in hyaluronic acid, respectively). Statistical significance was assayed by repeated measurements one-way ANOVA, Bonferroni multiple comparisons; NS, not significant, *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001