Fig. 2

Water-treated OBC matrix enhances matrix mineralization of MSCs. OBC matrix was prepared from the cells shown in Fig. 1 at day 15 of osteogenic induction. Cultures were stained with AlzR to detect mineralization. MSCs are shown on plastic at day 12 of culture in EM (d) and OM (a). e DOC- and (f) water-treated matrices, without MSCs on top and maintained in OM for 12 days, show that water-treated OBC matrix sometimes remineralizes on its own (f). b and c show MSCs seeded on DOC- and water-treated OBC matrix, respectively, after 12 days in OM. DOC-matrix did not affect mineralization compared to cells on plastic (a). While water-treated matrix alone (f) showed a high level of AlzR staining even in the absence of live cells, the presence of MSCs enhanced staining (c). OBC osteoblastic cells, MSC mesenchymal stem cells, AlzR Alizarin Red S, EM expansion medium, OM osteogenic medium