Fig. 1.

Characterization of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) at Passage 2. A. The hUC-MSCs were isolated and cultured from the umbilical cord tissue. Morphology of hUC-MSCs shows successful proliferation. (Scale bar: 300 μm, 100 μm, 50 μm). B. Immunohistochemistry staining of hUC-MSCs with antibodies providing positive or negative signals. MSCs were subjected to immunolocalization of MSCs specific surface antigens using primary antibodies directed against CD 105, CD34, CD45, and CD44 and stained by secondary antibodies conjugated with FITC/Rhodamine and counterstained with DAPI. Positive markers CD105 and CD44 were expressed, and negative markers CD34 and CD45 were not expressed. (Scale bar: 50 μm). C. hUC-MSCs characterization by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Expression level of surface markers is maintained during in vitro culture of hUC-MSCs. Positive markers CD44 and CD105 were expressed as a high percentage, and negative markers CD45 and CD34 were detected as a low percentage.