Figure 7.

Transplanted MSCs secreted VEGFA and PDGF-BB in the bone defect

(A) Fluorescent microscopy showing VEGFA and implanted cells (fNP) within the defect; c, cortical bone; d, defect area. Scale bars, 80 μm; regions enclosed by yellow dotted lines: VOI1 was selected as quantitative regions with 200, 400, and 40 μm on X, Y, and Z on PSD 3; VOI1 was adjacent to cortical bone; VOI2 was selected as quantitative regions with 700, 400, and 40 μm on X, Y, and Z on PSD 7 and 10, the middle portion of the defect is selected; zoomed-in images of regions enclosed by white dotted lines are enlarged to right panels, followed by 3D rendered surfaces; white arrows indicate fNP+ VEGFA+ cells; empty arrows indicate fNP+ VEGFA– cells. Scale bars, 10 μm.

(B and C) Quantification of VEGFA; ^∗p < 0.05, ^∗∗∗p < 0.001; n = 6.

(D) The distance distribution of fNP+ cells to the VEGFA surface.

(E) The proportion of fNP+ VEGFA+ cells relative to fNP+ cells in defect area; ^∗∗∗p < 0.001; n = 6.

(F) Representative confocal microscopy images of PDGF-BB (green) and implanted cells (fNP, red) within the defect. Scale bars, 80 μm; zoomed-in images of regions enclosed by white dotted lines are enlarged to right panel of respective groups, followed by 3D rendered surface; white arrows indicate fNP+ PDGF-BB+ cells; empty arrows indicate fNP+ PDGF-BB– cells. Scale bars, 10 μm.

(G and H) Quantification assessment for PDGF-BB volumes. ^∗p < 0.05, ^∗∗∗p < 0.001; n = 6.

(I) The distance distribution of fNP+ cells to the PDGF-BB surface.

(J) The proportion of fNP+ PDGF-BB+ cells relative to fNP+ cells; ^∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001; n = 6.