Pericyte-like differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells: An in vitro study

Figure 8 Evaluation of the barrier integrity by trans-endothelial electrical resistance in human retinal endothelial cells monocultures or in co-cultures of human retinal endothelial cells with pericytes (human retinal pericyte cells) or different groups of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. A: Trans-endothelial electrical resistance values measured on day 3; B: Trans-endothelial electrical resistance values measured on day 6. Trans-endothelial electrical resistance values measured on day 3 (A) and day 6 (B) show that significant increases were observed only when human retinal endothelial cells (hRECs) were co-cultured with human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells pre-cultured in complete pericyte medium or human retinal pericyte cells. Values are expressed as Ohm/cm² and calculated by the formula: (Average resistance of experimental wells - average resistance of blank wells) × 0.33 (area of the transwell membrane). Values were gathered from three independent experiments carried out in duplicate (n = 6). The boxes define the 25^th and 75^th percentile; the center line is the median; the whiskers are the range. ^aIndicates significant difference (P < 0.05) vs hRECs; ^bIndicates significant difference (P < 0.05) vs hASCs pre-stimulated with transforming growth factor; ^cIndicates significant difference (P < 0.05) vs hASCs pre-cultured in pericyte medium lacking pericyte growth supplement. hASCs: Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells pre-cultured in basal medium; hRECs: Human retinal endothelial cells; hRPCs: Human retinal pericyte cells; TGF-hASCs: hASCs pre-stimulated with transforming growth factor; noPGS-hASCs: hASCs pre-cultured in pericyte medium lacking pericyte growth supplement; PM-hASCs: hASCs pre-cultured in complete pericyte medium.