Fig. 6

Knockdown of USP7 impairs bone formation in vivo. a Schematic diagram illustrating the experimental setup. b Representative micro-CT images and quantitative analysis of BV/TV. c–e H&E staining (c), Masson’s trichrome staining (d), and immunohistochemistry staining of OC (e) conjugated with histomorphometry analysis of histologic sections from implanted hASC-scaffold hybrids. Dark-brown granules indicating positive staining are marked by black arrows. Low magnification images are provided in the upper panels, scale bars = 50 μm, while higher magnification images are in the lower panels (c–e) of the stainings, scale bars = 20 μm. Results are presented as the mean ± SD, n = 3. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. BV/TV bone volume to total volume, hASC human adipose-derived stem cell, H&E hematoxylin and eosin, IHC immunohistochemical, NC negative control, OC osteocalcin, USP7 ubiquitin specific protease 7