Transcription regulators differentiate mesenchymal stem cells into chondroprogenitors, and their in vivo implantation regenerated the intervertebral disc degeneration

Figure 1 Characterization of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. A: Culture of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) showed spindle-shaped fibroblast-like morphology at passage P₁ to P₄; B: MSCs showed positive expression of CD73, CD105, Vimentin, CD29, and CD90. Nuclei were stained with DAPI; C: Histogram of MSCs with specific markers. MSCs showed negative expression of CD45, while positive expression for Vimentin, CD105, and CD73; D: Tri-lineage differentiation of hUC-MSCs. Alizarin Red stained calcium deposits produced by osteocytes, Oil red O-stained lipid vacuoles produced by adipocytes, and Alcian blue stained proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans secreted by chondrocytes.