Figure 1From: Human mesenchymal stem cells possess different biological characteristics but do not change their therapeutic potential when cultured in serum free mediumIn vitro growth characteristics of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells cultured in serum-free medium. Both in SCM (a) and in SFM (b), human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) maintained fibroblast-like morphology (40×). (c) Calculated population-doubling time. Open boxes, hUC-MSCs expanded in SFM; filled boxes, hUC-MSCs expanded in serum-containing medium (SCM). SFM-expanded hUC-MSCs possessed a much longer calculated population-doubling time. (d) In vitro lifespan of hUC-MSCs derived from five different donors. (e) Paired t test was used to compare the lifespan of hUC-MSCs cultured in SFM and SCM. A significant different lifespan between SFM-derived and SCM-derived hUC-MSCs was observed. (f) Senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity analysis of SFM-expanded hUC-MSCs at late passage. Blue stain shows senescent cells (×200).Back to article page