Immortalization of epidural fat-derived mesenchymal stem cells: In vitro characterization and adipocyte differentiation potential

Figure 2 Preserved stem cell characteristics in immortalized epidural fat-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Immortalized epidural fat-derived mesenchymal stem cells (EF-MSCs) maintained their SC surface markers and adipogenic potential. A: Representative images of immortalized EF-MSCs, showing vacuolar degeneration in the transfected MSCs (black arrow), scale bars = 50 μm; B: Representative images demonstrating the prolonged lifespan of EF-MSCs, scale bar = 200 μm; C: Fluorescence-activated single cell sorting analysis results showing the expression of stem cell surface markers in immortalized EF-MSCs (passage 20); D: Representative images and quantification of Oil Red O staining in immortalized EF-MSCs, scale bar = 50 μm; E: Expression levels of adipogenesis marker protein CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation for each group. ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001. hTERT: Human telomerase reverse transcriptase.