Fig. 2. Dose-dependent skin ECM supplementation confirms cytocompatibility and identifies an optimal concentration based on ECM remodeling and hydration gene signatures.
(A) Brightfield images of human dermal fibroblasts cultured with skin ECM supplementation at varying concentration (0, 1, 5, and 25 μg/ml) on day 2 and day 4. Scale bar = 200 μm. (B) Live/dead staining images of fibroblasts following dose-dependent skin ECM supplementation on day 2 and day 4 (Green, live; red, dead). Scale bar = 200 μm. (C) Quantification of the live cell fraction based on live/dead fluorescence images (n = 5). (D) qPCR analyses of fibroblasts treated with dose-dependent skin ECM, showing mRNA expression ELN, HAS1, and HAS2 (n = 3, *p < 0.05 and ****p < 0.0001 versus no supplement). Data are presented as mean ± SD. Statistical significance was analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test.
