Fig. 3

Immunostaining of early culture of cells obtained after collagenase digestion of LG. Endothelial, pericyte and mesenchymal markers were used to characterize the cells extracted from LG. Cells analyzed upon 48-72 h of culture, showed the presence of a significant number of cell colonies positive for CD31, CD34 endothelial markers, surrounded by fibroblastic negative cells (black arrows). Conversely, several fibroblastic-like cells were positive for the pericyte marker NG2, and the mesenchymal markers CD105, CD44 and SMA. Interestingly, CD146 stained very intensely both colonies and fibroblastic cells; very few cells were negative. Fibroblastic-like cells were also positive for TGFβ1 and VEGF, growth factors that are usually secreted by MSCs. (Magnification 20x)