Fig. 1

Effects of various concentrations of culture pO₂ on the microenvironment of ASCs. a Real-time RT-PCR showed mRNA expression of the markers for liver regeneration (IL-6, HGF, and VEGF) according to different concentrations of culture pO₂. mRNA expression of these markers was significantly higher in AML12 cells cultured under 1% pO₂ than in AML12 cells cultured under other pO₂ concentrations. b Western blot analysis showed highest expression of HGF and VEGF in the 1% pO₂ group. c ELISA showed the highest concentration of IL-6 in the 1% pO₂ group. d Effects of secretome cultured under 21%, 10%, 5%, and 1% pO₂ on proliferation of AML12 hepatocytes. AML12 cells cultured with secretome of 1% pO₂ showed the highest cell proliferation, followed by cells cultured with secretome of 21%, 10%, and 5% pO₂, in that order. e Effects of secretome with culture 1% pO₂ on injured AML12 hepatocytes. Western blot analysis showed that supplementation with 1% pO₂ secretome significantly increased expression levels of PCNA and p-STAT3 better than 21% pO₂ secretome. f Effects of the secretome with culture 1% pO₂ on injured TCMK-1 renal cells. Western blot analysis showed that supplementation with 21% pO₂ secretome significantly increased the expression levels of PCNA and p-STAT3 better than the 1% pO₂ secretome. Data show mean and SD for three independent experiments. *p < 0.05 compared to control. ASC adipose-derived stem cell, Ct control, HGF hepatocyte growth factor, IL interleukin, IR ischemia–reperfusion, PCNA proliferating cell nuclear antigen, pO ₂ oxygen partial pressure, p-STAT3 phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, S21% secretome of culture 21% pO₂, S10% secretome of culture 10% pO₂, S5% secretome of culture 5% pO₂, S1% secretome of culture 1% pO₂, VEGF vascular endothelial cell growth factor