FIG. 2.

In vitro osteogenic differentiation of hASCs and SSEA-4⁺hASCs. (A) quantitative RT-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) results showing the overexpression of osteogenic-related genes, osteocalcin (OCN), and osteopontin (OPN) in both cell populations along the culture in osteogenic conditions (B, C) Immunostaining of OPN and OCN deposition by hASCs (B) and SSEA-4⁺hASCs (C) at days 14, 21, and 28 of culture under osteogenic conditions confirming the osteogenic differentiation. Cell nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. (D) Optical micrographs showing the gradual mineralization of the deposited matrix after Alizarin Red staining from day 7, 14, 21, and 28. Scale bar represent 50 μm. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea