Thymoquinone inhibited the chondrogenic differentiation of tendon-derived stem cells caused by tendon injury

Figure 3 Thymoquinone decreased chondrogenic markers, including collagen II and aggrecan, in tendon-derived stem cells subjected to injury conditions. A: Immunofluorescence staining of collagen II, detected using a CoraLite^® Plus 488-conjugated antibody, alongside nuclear staining with Hoechst 33342, across different experimental groups; B: Immunofluorescence staining of aggrecan, labeled with a CoraLite 594-conjugated antibody, together with nuclear staining by Hoechst 33342 in the same groups. Bar: 100 μm. The control group refers to tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) cultured on decellularized tendon slices with 0% strain; the control + thapsigargin group refers to TDSCs treated with thapsigargin on decellularized tendon slices with 0% strain; the injury group refers to TDSCs cultured on decellularized tendon slices with 6.4% strain; the injury + 4-phenylbutyric acid group refers to TDSCs treated with 4-phenylbutyric acid on decellularized tendon slices with 6.4% strain; the injury + thymoquinone group refers to TDSCs treated with thymoquinone on decellularized tendon slices with 6.4% strain. Ctl: Control; Ctl + Thap: Control + thapsigargin; 4-PBA: 4-phenylbutyric acid; TQ: Thymoquinone.