Optimal concentration of mesenchymal stem cells for fracture healing in a rat model with long bone fracture

Figure 6 Western blot analysis of factors related to mesenchymal stem cell homing and angiogenesis. At 2 wk post-fracture, the protein expressions of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were significantly higher in the groups injected with 5.0 × 10⁶ and 10.0 × 10⁶ mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) compared to the group injected with normal saline. No significant difference in SDF-1, TGF-β1 and VEGF protein expression was found in the groups injected with 5.0 × 10⁶ and 10.0 × 10⁶ MSCs. MSCs: Mesenchymal stem cells; SDF-1: Stromal cell-derived factor 1; TGF-β1: Transforming growth factor-beta 1; VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor.