Fig. 3

hASC characterization and pro-tenogenic effect of tECM on hASCs. A hASCs were characterized by CFU-F assay and tri-lineage differentiation assay (adipogenesis: Oil red O staining; chondrogenesis: Alcian Blue staining; and osteogenesis: Alizarin red staining). B hASCs were cultured with FBS, Col1 (2% v/v or 10% v/v) or tECM (10% v/v) for indicated duration. tECM group showed significantly enhanced cell proliferation (DAPI) and staining intensity for COL1, SCX, TNC, and F-actin. Top: fluorescence images; bottom: quantitation of stained cell number (DAPI) and staining intensity (SCX, COL1, and TNC). n = 3 isolates; \(*\), P < .05, \(**\), P < .01; \(***\), P < .001, scale bar: 200 µm