Pericyte-like differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells: An in vitro study

Figure 1 α-Smooth muscle actin immunoreactivity (red fluorescence) evaluated after one day (left column, 1 d), three days (middle column, 3 d) and six days (right column, 6 d) of cell growth. First row: Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) cultured in basal medium; Second row: hASCs in basal medium stimulated with transforming growth factor; Third row: hASCs cultured in pericyte medium without pericyte growth supplement; Fourth Row: hASCs cultured in complete pericyte medium; Fifth row: Human retinal pericyte cells cultured in complete pericyte medium (hRPCs). Photomicrographs show that only basal expression of α-SMA was detectable in hRPCs and all hASC groups at day 1 (left column). At day 3 and 6, a typical filamentous pattern of α-SMA was clearly detected in hASCs, hASCs in basal medium stimulated with transforming growth factor and hASCs cultured in pericyte medium without pericyte growth supplement, whereas the basal expression of α-SMA remained virtually unmodified in hASCs cultured in complete pericyte medium and hRPCs (last two rows). Blue fluorescence indicates DAPI staining of cell nuclei. Scale bar: 50 μm.