Fig. 5

Tenogenic differentiation of TSPC expanded by the 29-mer. Primary isolated tendon cells were treated with the 29-mer or solvent for 10 days, and the cells were cultured in medium without the 29-mer or solvent for a further 14 days. a Representative Masson’s trichrome-stained micrographs of primary tendon cells pretreated with the 29-mer or solvent and stained on day 24. Data represent three independent experiments. b Real-time qPCR analysis of the levels of TSPC marker genes (Oct4 and nestin) and teno-lineage marker genes (Col1a1, Col3a1, Tnc, Egr1, and Mkx) among primary tendon cells on days 10 and 24. Gapdh was used as a loading control. Data are representative of three independent experiments. *P < 0.001 versus solvent-treated cells. **P < 0.0001 versus solvent-treated cells