Figure 5

Comparative analysis of the tenogenic differentiation capacities of three types of MSCs. a–c MSCs were cultured with Ad-BMP-12 for 1, 3, and 7 days. The expression levels of the specific tenogenic genes Scx (a), Tnmd (b), and Tnc (c) were evaluated by real-time RT–PCR at 0, 1, 3, and 7 days after infection (each bar represents mean ± SD from three independent experiments; *p < 0.05, ANOVA). The BM-MSCs infected with Ad-GFP on day 0 were used as control. d Western blot was performed with total proteins from all three types of MSCs at 0, 1, 3, and 7 days after infection to detect the levels of Scx, Tnmd, and Tnc. β-Tublin was used as control. e Col I expression was evaluated by real-time RT–PCR at 0, 1, 3, and 7 days after induction (each bar represents mean ± SD from three independent experiments; *p < 0.05). The BM-MSCs infected with Ad-GFP on day 0 were used as control. f Col I concentration in the cell lysate was quantified at 0, 1, 3, and 7 days post Ad-BMP-12 infection by using a Col I ELISA kit (each bar represents mean ± SD from three independent experiments; *p < 0.05, ANOVA).