Exogenous Heparan Sulfate Enhances the TGF-β3-Induced Chondrogenesis in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Activating TGF-β/Smad Signaling

Figure 1

Heparan sulfate promotes TGF-β3-induced chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs. Cells were cultured in control medium (C), heparan sulfate (HS), TGF-β3 (T), or heparan sulfate together with TGF-β3 (T + HS) for 21 days (). (a) Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) quantification at days 3, 7, 14, and 21. versus C group, versus T group, and versus T group. (b) Real-time PCR analysis of cartilage-specific genes SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 9 (SOX9), aggrecan (ACAN), and collagen type II (COL2A1) at day 7. versus C group, versus T group, and versus T group. (c) Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining for cartilage structure, Alcian blue staining for proteoglycan, and immunohistochemistry for collagen type II at day 7. Scale bar = 50 μm.

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