Research Paper Volume 16, Issue 9 pp 7928—7945
Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells promote steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head repair by improving microvascular endothelial cell function
Figure 8. hUCMSCs played a protective role by regulating FAK/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through COL6A2. (A) COL6A2 levels in the cell supernatants, assessed via ELISA. (B–E) The protein level of p-FAK, FAK, p-PI3K, PI3K, p-AKT, AKT and GAPDH in BMECs by Western blot. (F) Wound healing assay at 0, 12, and 24 h after co-culture with hUCMSCs. (G) Scratch closure rate in three groups. (H) Tube formation assay at 12 h after co-culture with hUCMSCs. (I, J) Total length and Total branching points in three groups. The data are presented as the means ± SD (n = 3). +p < 0.05, ++p < 0.01, +++p < 0.001, compared with the Con group. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, compared with the Dex group. #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01, ###p < 0.001, compared with the Dex+hUCMSC group. Scale bars: 50 μm.