Figure 3. The effects of MΦ-CM and OC-CM on MSC mineralisation and metabolic activity.

10⁴ MSC were cultured in 50% OC-CM or MΦ-CM with osteogenic factors for 14 days. (A) Metabolic activity of cultures assessed by MTT assay. (B) Matrix mineralisation, assessed by quantification of bound Alizarin Red, was greatly enhanced by OC-CM or MΦ-CM treatment of MSC cultured in osteogenic medium. (C) Representative photomicrographs of stained cultures from B; scale bars  = 100 µm. Data displayed as mean ± SEM. Statistical significance relative to controls (adjoining grey columns) determined by Two-Way ANOVA, GLM (A) and One-Way ANOVA, Tukey's post hoc test (B), n = 6, *p≤0.05, ***p≤0.001 difference from control medium or as indicated with capped line. Control  = 50% medium conditioned in the absence of cells.