Fig. 1

MiR-34a expression augments in senescent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). a–c Morphological evaluation of young and senescent MSCs. a Morphological features (scale bar = 50 μm) and quantitative analysis of cell surface area (b) and cell aspect ratio (c) of young P3MSCs (YMSCs), replicative senescent P10MSCs, and natural senescent OMSCs. d, e SA-β-gal staining (scale bar = 50 μm) (d) and quantitative analysis of the percentages of β-gal-positive cells (e) in P3MSCs, P10MSCs, and OMSCs. f, g Expression levels of miR-34 family members (comprising miR-34a, b, and c) in senescent P10MSCs (f) and OMSCs (g) compared to the young counterpart P3MSCs, respectively, assessed by RT-qPCR. h Examination of miR-34a expression levels by RT-qPCR in the hearts, brains, livers, kidneys, and lungs derived from young (1–2 months old, Y) and old (15–18 months old, O) Wistar male rats. i Detection of miR-34a expression levels by RT-qPCR. n = 3 independent experiments; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. P3MSCs, YMSCs