Morphologies, Alizarin Red S and von Kossa staining of cultured ADMSCs and BMMSCs from two representative MM patients.

<p>Both ADMSCs (d, j) and BMMSCs (a, g) had typical morphology for MSCs, like spindle shapes, fibroblast-like morphology and aligned in whirl formations. Positive ARS staining for calcium deposits appeared red granules for ADMSCs (e, k) and paired BMMSCs (b, h). Bone nodules were identified by the von Kossa staining and were shown in brown-black granules for ADMSCs (f, l) and paired BMMSCs (c, i).</p

Surface marker analysis of ADMSCs and paired BMMSCs.

<p>All the ADMSCs and BMMSCs were immune-positive for the MSCs cell surface markers: CD44, CD73, CD90 and CD105 (a) but immune-negative for the hematopoietic cell surface markers: CD14, CD19, CD34, CD45, CD138 and HLA-DR (b). The results are presented as FACS histograms (isotype control stain  =  black dot line histogram; surface marker stain  =  orange solid line histogram).</p

Senescence associated beta-galactosidase staining of cultured ADMSCs and BMMSCs from two representative MM patients.

<p>Positive senescence associated beta-galactosidase stainings shown by the blue granules within cytoplasms (arrowhead) were seen in most BMMSCs (a, c), but which were not seen in any of the paired ADMSCs (b, d).</p

The calcium deposition levels of cultured ADMSCs and BMMSCs from healthy donors, non-MM control and MM patients.

<p>The calcium deposition levels of cultured ADMSCs and BMMSCs from healthy donors, non-MM control and MM patients.</p

The salient clinical characteristics at diagnosis and treatment response of the 15

<p>^*. According to the IMWG criteria, and the evaluation was taken at the 3^rd month from the HDT/AuSCT;</p><p>^**. Defined from commencement of induction treatment to HDT/AuSCT.</p><p>Abbreviations: A, doxorubicin; BM, bone marrow; C, cyclophosphamide; CA, cytogenetic abnormalities; CR, complete response; D, dexamethasone; DSS, Durie-Salmon Stage; F, female; HDT/AuSCT, high dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation; ISS, International Staging System; M, male; M-protein, myeloma immunoprotein; m, month; PC, plasma cell; PR, partial response; Pt, patient; T, thalidomide; V, bortezomib; VGPR, very good partial response; yr, years; ZA, zoledronic acid.</p

The expansion capacity of MM-ADMSCs and paired BMMSCs.

<p>The expansion capacity of MM-ADMSCs and paired BMMSCs.</p