Ameliorating liver fibrosis in an animal model using the secretome released from miR-122-transfected adipose-derived stem cells

Figure 1 Assessment of multilineage differentiation potential of miR-122-transfected adipose-derived stem cells. A: Flow cytometric analysis showing that miR-122 transfection did not alter the expression of surface markers of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). ASCs were negative for CD31 and CD45 (hematopoietic stem cell-associated markers) expression and positive for CD73 and CD105 (mesenchymal stem cell-associated markers) expression regardless of miR-122 transfection; B: Comparison of gross cell morphology between ASCs with/without miR-122 transfection. Cells appear to be identical regardless of miR-122 transfection; C, D: Photomicrographs showing successful differentiation of ASCs into adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes regardless of miR-122 transfection. The differentiated cells were identified using four distinct staining methods (Oil Red O, Alizarin Red, collagen type 1, and proteoglycan). Scale bars = 100 µm. Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation of three independent experiments. ^aP < 0.05. ASC: Adipose-derived stem cell; HSC: Hepatic stellate cell; PG: Proteoglycan.