Fig. 1

Biological characteristics and expression levels of pluripotency and embryonic layers markers of adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs), dental follicle cells (DFCs), and stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs). (A) CD73, CD90, CD105, and CD146 were expressed in ASCs, DFCs, and SHEDs, however, these cells did not express CD14, CD19, and CD45. (B a, b and c) Oil red O staining of lipid droplets in ASCs, DFCs, and SHEDs after adipogenic induction. (B d, e, and f) Mineralized nodules were observed in the three cell types after 21 days of osteogenic induction. (B m) The findings showed no statistical difference in the number of mineralized nodules among ASCs, DFCs, and SHEDs groups. (B g, h, and i) Positive staining of β-III tubulin was observed in ASCs, DFCs, and SHEDs after nerve induction. (B j, k, and l) Crystal violet staining of colony-forming unit fibroblasts showed that ASCs, DFCs, and SHEDs cell types exhibited high colony-forming ability. (B n) There was no significant difference in colony formation efficiency among the three groups. (C) Nanog, Sox2, β-III tubulin, and PDGFRα expression levels in ASCs, DFCs, and SHEDs were determined by RT-qPCR. Scale bars = 100 μm (B a, b, c, d, e, and f), scale bars = 400 μm (B g, h, and i), scale bars = 500 μm (B j, k, and l). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001