Increased apoptosis rate of BM nestin⁺MSCs and reduced sympathetic innervation of BM nestin⁺MSCs in ITP patients. (A) Apoptosis rate of nestin⁺ MSCs analyzed by FACS in the ITP group (n = 30) and control group (n = 28). (B-B′′′) Representative images of BM biopsy tissues immunofluorescently stained with anti-nestin (red), anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (green), and DAPI (blue); merged image indicates the distribution and quantity of nestin⁺ MSCs and SNs in the control group (scale bar, 100 μm). (C-C′′′) Representative images of BM biopsy tissue immunofluorescently stained with anti-nestin (red), anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (green), and DAPI (blue); merged image shows the distribution and quantity of nestin⁺ MSCs and SNs in the ITP group (scale bars, 100 μm). (D-D″) Representative images of the BM biopsy tissue from the control group stained with anti-GFAP (red) and DAPI (blue) showing the distribution and quantity of Schwann cells (scale bars, 100 μm). (E-E″) Representative images of BM biopsy tissue from the ITP group stained with anti-GFAP (red) and DAPI (blue) showing the distribution and quantity of Schwann cells (scale bars, 100 μm). (F) Quantification of tyrosine hydroxylase⁺ (Th⁺) fibers in the BM from controls (n = 28) and ITP patients (n = 30). (G) Quantification of GFAP⁺ cells in the BM from controls (n = 28) and ITP patients (n = 30). Data are pooled from 10 independent experiments with 4 to 8 samples per experiment (A,F-G). Data are shown as mean ± SD. Each point represents the mean adjusted value of 3 replicates for each individual patient. P values were calculated using the Mann-Whitney U test. *P < .001.