Research Article

Bone Marrow-Derived CD44+ Cells Migrate to Tissue-Engineered Constructs via SDF-1/CXCR4-JNK Pathway and Aid Bone Repair

Figure 3

Imaging examination and in vivo recruitment of BM cells towards different implants. (a) A more calcified bone matrix was observed in the TEC group compared to that in the DBM group by micro-CT. The osteogenic parameters of TECs were all significantly better than DBM. (b) Representative images from IVIS. The implantation sites of TECs showed higher fluorescence intensity than DBM (days 1 and 3). (c) Representative images of in vivo migration of GFP+/CD44+ cells revealed by immunofluorescence staining. Postoperatively, more GFP+ and GFP+/CD44+ cells emerged in TECs than in DBM. TECs, tissue-engineered constructs; white triangle, implant area; white arrows, GFP+/CD44+ cells; scale bar, 50 mm. .
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