Fig. 1

Coculturing bmMSCs and MS-1 cells ameliorated H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and functional impairment. a MSCs could be induced to differentiate toward osteoblasts (upper) and adipocytes (lower). Calcium nodes were identified by Van Kossa silver stain (black), and lipid droplets were identified by Oil-red O stain (red). b MSCs were positive for stem cell markers CD90 and CD44 and negative for hematopoietic markers CD34 and CD45, assessed by flow cytometry analysis. c MSC-CM reversed the H₂O₂-induced cell viability reduction observed by MTT tests. d, e Transwell culturing of MSCs with MS-1 ameliorated the H₂O₂-induced cell apoptosis, whereas fibroblasts had little influence (d shows the results of double staining of annexin V/PI flow cytometry and e shows the results of TUNEL staining). f Confirmation of the ameliorated cell apoptosis by cleaved caspase 3 western blotting analysis, and the western blotting results of the improved endothelium function indicated by phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM). Expression of the intercellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM) was not influenced. Quantification of bands performed using Image J software. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.001. t-eNOS total endothelial nitric oxide synthase, MSC mesenchymal stromal cell, PI propidium iodide (Color figure online)