Fig. 8

hFDSPC-CM promotes collagen production of human fibroblasts through the TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway in vitro. After treatment with hFDSPC-CM or hADSC-CM (20 μg/mL) for 48 h, the role on gene expression levels of COL 1 (a), COL 3 (b), FN (c), α-SMA (d), MMP-1 (e), MMP-1 (f), and TGF-β1 (g) was assessed using RT-qPCR in human fibroblasts. h After incubation with hADSC-CM or hFDSPC-CM (20 μg/mL) in serum-free culture medium for 72 h, TGF-β1 protein from human fibroblasts was measured using an ELISA assay. i ECM components, COL 1, COL 3, and FN, and activated fibroblast markers, α-SMA, were assessed using immunofluorescence analysis in human fibroblasts incubated with hADSC-CM or hFDSPC-CM (20 μg/mL), bar = 50 μm. j Human fibroblasts were treated with increasing doses of hFDSPC-CM (0, 10, and 20 μg/mL) for 48 h and harvested for western blot analysis to assess the intracellular signalling as indicated. k Human fibroblasts were analysed for activation of the TGF-β/Smad pathway after 48 h incubation with PBS/10 μg/mL or 20 μg/mL hFDSPC-CM. Data are shown as means ± SD; bar = 100 μm; n = 4; *p < 0.05, *p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001