Fig. 2

Stem cell characterization of DPSCs under xenogeneic serum-free or FBS-containing culture conditions. a Growth-curve evaluation of DPSCs cultured in XFM or SCM at passage 3 during 14 days of culture. *P < 0.01. b Karyotype analysis of XFM and SCM cells at passage 10. c Flow cytometry for cell-surface markers of MSCs and hematopoietic cells on XFM and SCM cells. d Gene-expression profile of MSC and osteo/odontogenic markers in XFM and SCM cells determined by RT-PCR. e Alizarin Red staining (ALZ) and RT-PCR results for osteo/odontogenic marker genes from mineral-inducing cultures of XFM and SCM cells after a 4-week induction (+) or 4 weeks without induction (−). Insets in ALZ images show no-induction cultures (4 weeks). Scale bars, 100 μm. f Oil Red O-staining (ORO) showing lipid droplets and RT-PCR results for adipogenic marker genes (−) in XFM and SCM cells after a 4-week adipogenic induction (+) or 4 weeks without induction (−). Insets in ORO images show no-induction cultures (4 weeks). Scale bars, 50 μm. g Alcian Blue, Safranin O, and immunohistochemical staining showing chondrogenic induction cultures of XFM and SCM cells after 4 weeks. No chondrogenic induction was observed after 4 weeks (control). Scale bars, 50 μm. SCM xenogeneic serum-containing culture medium, XFM xenogeneic serum-free culture medium, Runx2 runt-related transcription factor 2, Oct3/4 POU class 5 homeobox 1 (POU5F1), SOX2 sex determining region Y-box 2, OCN osteocalcin, DSPP dentin sialophosphoprotein, PPARγ, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, FABP4 fatty acid binding protein 4