Figure 5

The addition of ASCs to macrophage-TF cultures led to a shift in macrophage phenotype toward M2. Mean fluorescent intensity of M2 macrophage-specific surface markers (A) CD206 and (B) CD301 is shown after one or five days of culture. Macrophages (M0, M1, or M2) were either co-cultured with TFs for one day or tri-cultured with TFs and ASCs for one or five days (note that TFs were only added for the last 24 hours). There was a significant effect of macrophage type for CD206 and CD301, a significant effect of ASCs for CD301 on day 1 and day 5, and a significant effect of ASCs for CD206 on day 5 (* P <0.05, † P <0.10; */† by the x-axis labels signifies a significant difference compared to M2 macrophages cultured alone; N = 5). ASCs, adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells; TFs, tendon fibroblasts.