Fig 2: The clonogenic capacity and surface marker expression of hFDSPCs. The clonogenic capacity of hFDSPCs was examined using CFU assays. a hFDSPCs cultured at P1 to P3 were seeded in 6-well plates at a density of 50 cells/cm2, with cell clones observed after 7 days. b Colony formation numbers were counted; the data were plotted in graphs and analysed using Graph Pad Prism Software (n = 6). c The colony morphology was observed under an inverted microscope, bar = 1000 μm. d Immunophenotyping of hFDSPCs was characterised using flow cytometry analysis. hFDSPCs were analysed for expression of the following markers (n = 4): CD90 (97.53% ± 0.48%), CD44 (97.28% ± 0.52%), CD105 (22.57% ± 2.09%), CD34 (1.30% ± 0.75%), CD45 (0.73% ± 0.39%), CD29 (98.62% ± 1.18%), CD13 (98.06% ±0.26%), CD59 (98.80% ± 1.02%), CD31(2.07% ± 0.31%), and CD133 (0.88% ± 0.16%). Isotype-matching IgG-FITC and IgG-PE were used to determine nonspecific signals. Data are shown as means ± SD, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001

Fig 3: Characterization of control-MSCs and IPF-MSCs. a Surface markers of control-MSCs and IPF-MSCs were evaluated by flow cytometry. Both control-MSCs and IPF-MSCs expressed CD73, CD90, and CD105 but not CD34 or CD45. b Adipogenic differentiation evaluated by Oil Red staining and quantification of adipogenic efficiency in control-MSCs and IPF-MSCs. c Osteogenic differentiation determined by Alizarin red staining and quantification of osteogenic efficiency in control-MSCs and IPF-MSCs. d Chondrogenic differentiation determined by Alcian blue staining and quantification of chondrogenic efficiency in control-MSCs and IPF-MSCs. All data were obtained from at least three independent experiments and each error bar represents the mean ± SEM. Scale bar = 200 μm. ***p < 0 .001

Fig 4: Progenitor cell populations in the bone marrow compartment (A–G) and in the circulation (H and I).Control individuals (white bars, n = 13) and individuals with CAD (gray bars, n = 13). HSC and MPP cell populations were combined as the CD90 expression marker was not available for n = 6 in each study group. Geometric mean with 95% CI. The p-values are corrected for age and BMI with ANCOVA. * indicates p<0.05, **: p<0.01. In top-down order: HSC indicates hematopoietic stem cell, MPP: multipotent progenitor, CLP: common lymphoid progenitor, CMP: common myeloid progenitor, GMP: granulocyte-macrophage progenitor, MEP: megakaryocyte erythrocyte progenitor.

Fig 5: Normalized quantitative MSC viability via flow cytometry in HCT and RBCrel conditions. MSCs stained with CD90, annexin-V (AV) and 7AAD where CD90 + /AV-/7AAD- are viable; percentages derived from viable counts in each condition relative to the control. Viable MSCs in HCT conditions at a Day 1, b Day 2 and c Day 3. Viable MSCs in RBCrel conditions at d Day 1, e Day 2 and f Day 3. Error bars represent the standard deviation of the data set. Levels of significance: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01