Fig. 1

Classification of human adipose stem cells (hASCs). A hASCs exhibited a representative spindle-like morphology. Scale bar: 100 μm. The cell proliferation of hASCs was tested by CCK-8 assay. ^**P < 0.01 (VS. 1 day). B Flow cytometric analysis of characteristic cell surface markers of hASCs (CD29, CD90, CD105, CD45, and CD34). C Alcian blue staining of hASCs. Scale bar: 100 nm. D–E The mRNA levels of COL2A1 and ACAN were quantified by RT-qPCR. F–H The protein levels of COL2A1 and ACAN were measured using western blot. β-actin expression levels were detected as an endogenous control. ^**P < 0.01 (VS. ASCs). I Immunofluorescence assay of Type II collagen. Type II collagen fluorescence (green) and DAPI (blue). Scale bar: 50 μm and 20 μm. The experiment was repeated independently 5 times. The data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD)