Figure 5
In vivo cell-based tissue engineering.
Histological evaluation of the following groups of ADSCs 5 and 14 days after their introduction to the injury site: ADSCs only (group I), ADSCs in the Med Col-Tgel (group II), ADSCs in the Med Col-Tgel supplemented with 5-Aza-CR (group III). H&E, Masson’s Trichrome and MYOD1 immunostaining were performed. Muscle formation was evaluated by assessing the new muscle formation area and myofiber orientation and length, while inflammation and fibrosis were considered to have a negative effect on the muscle formation. As demonstrated by MitoTracker® labeling, group I ADSCs were untraceable at the injury site, while ADSCs remained visible. Immunofluorescence staining showed that ADSCs delivered by Col-Tgel containing 5-Aza-CR trans-differentiated into myoblast-like cells. On day 14, treatments with group II and III ADSCs led to the emergence of large areas of new muscle formation, while group I ADSCs were not associated with appreciable muscle regeneration. Group III ADSCs promoted the appearance of largest areas of new muscle formation and maturation, with minimal contamination by fibroblasts (Scale bars, 1000 μm).
