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

Figure 2

HS modulates expression mode of TGF-β receptors. Cells were cultured in four different media (C, HS, T, and T + HS) for 7 days. () (a) mRNA expression of TβRI and TβRII and ratio of TβRII to TβRI by real-time RT-PCR. versus C group, versus C group, and < 0.05 versus T group. (b) The expressions of TβRI and TβRII are visualized by immunofluorescence staining using anti-TβRI (green) and anti-TβRII (red) antibodies. Nuclei are counterstained using DAPI (blue). The far right panels show merged images. Scale bar = 50 μm. (c) mRNA expression of TβRIII by real-time RT-PCR assay. versus C group, versus T group. (d) The expressions of TβRIII are visualized by immunofluorescence staining using anti-TβRIII (red) antibodies. Nuclei are counterstained using DAPI (blue). The far right panels show merged images. Scale bar = 50 μm.

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