Stromal cell-derived factor-1α regulates chondrogenic differentiation via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in mesenchymal stem cells

Figure 3 Alkaline phosphatase activity levels in mesenchymal stem cells treated with stromal cell-derived factor-1α were noted in the absence of an effect on cartilage formation. A: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were cultured in vitro and stained with Alcian blue following 7 d of culture with or without stromal cell-derived factor-1α treatment; B: Alcian blue staining was measured after chemical extraction by measuring the absorbance of the supernatant at 600 nm; C: MSCs were positive for alkaline phosphatase (ALP; light purple staining); D: ALP expression was quantitatively analyzed. The values were representative of the mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). ^aP < 0.05 vs control. ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; sdf-1α: Stromal cell-derived factor-1α.