Fig. 1

Mild heat treatment (HT) of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) in a single passage at different temperatures. a Schematic representation of the experimental design. b Optical micrographs of the MSCs in each group on day 4. Scale bar is 200 μm. c Live cell percentage, d lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, and e relative metabolic activities of the MSCs in each group. Gene expression levels of f heat shock proteins (HSPs) and g stemness markers. Gene expression levels were normalized with the control (37ºC). Error bars represent the average ± the standard error of the mean from three to five experiments. *p < 0.05 compared to the control group, and ^#p < 0.05 compared to two groups