Fig. 1

hMSC-TERT differentiate into osteoblastic cells in vitro and form heterotopic bone in vivo. a RT-PCR experiments show gene expression of canonical osteoblastic markers ALP, COL1A1 and BGLAP in hMSC-TERT cells at day 0 and day 15 post-induction of OB differentiation. The error bars (S.E.M.) represent 4 independent biological replicates. The y axis represents expression relative to a set of housekeeping genes. b Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in hMSC-TERT cells at days 0 and 6 post-OB induction. Alizarin red (AZR) staining for matrix mineralisation at days 0 and 15 post-OB induction. c In vivo bone-formation assay was performed by implanting hMSC-TERT, mixed with hydroxyapatite–tricalcium phosphate (HA/TCP), subcutaneously into immune-deficient mice for 8 weeks. Sections were stained with hematoxylin (pink osteoid) and eosin (blue nuclei) (left hand image) or human- specific vimentin demonstrating human origin of osteoid and osteocytes (right hand image). The scale bar =100 μm