Differentiation of Human Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Human Anterior Cruciate Ligament Fibroblast Cells by In Vitro Coculture

Figure 8

mRNA levels of collagen types I and III, fibronectin, tenascin-C, MMP-2, and LOX-1 and protein expression levels of collagen types I and III in hAMSCs were evaluated in each group. Group B served as the control group. Compared with the noninduced groups, the induced groups showed significantly increased expression on days 7, 14, and 21. Among all groups, Group E showed the greatest increase in expression on day 21. Group E also showed the highest level of collagen type III mRNA expression. Fibronectin expression in Group E differed significantly from the other groups on day 21. Group E also showed higher expression of MMP-2 on day 21 compared with the control group. mRNA expression of LOX-1 was similar in all groups, but its level in Group E was higher than that in the other groups on day 21 (a) (). Expression levels of collagen types I and III in coculture systems with and without induction on days 7, 14, and 21, as determined by western blotting. Group E expressed the highest levels of collagen types I and III (b) ().

(a)

(b)