Environmental Benzopyrene Attenuates Stemness of Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells via Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

Figure 3

The effect of BP on stemness in placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PD-MSCs). (a) Gene expression of 1 μM BP-treated PD-MSCs for 7 days was analyzed by RT-PCR for pluripotency, MSC, and immune tolerance markers compared to control. One representative of 3 independent experiments is shown. (b) Self-renewal capacity of 1 μM BP-treated PD-MSCs (passage 8) for 7 days was evaluated by a CFU-F assay. The number of colonies was counted after 14 days. The data are expressed as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. . (c) RT-PCR analysis of multipotency-related genes was performed in the control and 1 μM BP-treated PD-MSCs for 7 days. One representative of 3 independent experiments is shown. (d) Differentiation for osteogenesis, adipogenesis, and chondrogenesis was induced for 2 weeks. 1 μM BP was added to the induction medium whenever the medium was changed. Osteogenic differentiation was examined by von Kossa staining (scale bar, 100 μm; magnification, 200x). Adipogenic differentiation was determined by oil red O staining (scale bar, 50 μm; magnification, 400x). Chondrogenesis was evaluated by safranin O staining (scale bar, 100 μm; magnification, 200x). One representative of 3 independent experiments is shown. In RT-PCR, (−) indicates a negative control using water alone.

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