Isolation of LNGFR⁺THY-1⁺ MSCs from SYN.

<p>(A) Synovium (SYN) was harvested from patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty surgery and digested with collagenase and dispase. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated using flow cytometry. DMEM, Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium; FBS, fetal bovine serum. (B) Representative flow cytometric profile of SYN-derived cells stained for LNGFR and THY-1. Each population shows in LNGFR⁺/THY-1⁺(red), LNGFR⁺/THY^- (green), LNGFR^-/THY⁺ (blue) and LNGFR^-/THY^- (black) gates. PI, propidium iodide. (C) Number of colonies formed after 2 weeks of culturing 2,000 of the following cells: LNGFR⁺/THY-1⁺, LNGFR⁺/THY^-, LNGFR^-/THY⁺, and LNGFR^-/THY^- (mean ± standard deviation, n = 4 per group; *p<0.05; **p < 0.01; ns, not significant). (D) Phase contrast micrographs of LNGFR⁺THY-1⁺ cells showing their potential to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes (scale bar = 100 μm).