Fig. 6

Effects of successive mild HT on human AD-MSCs during subculturing with HT. a Schematic representation of the experimental study design. b Metabolic activity, c cumulative cell number, and d doubling time of the MSCs in each group during the subculture. e Telomere lengths of the MSCs at P + 10(HT) in each group. Relative gene expressions of f HSPs (HSP27, HSP70, and HSP90) and g stemness markers (SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG) at P + 1(HT), P + 4(HT), P + 7(HT), and P + 10(HT) in each group. Gene expression levels were normalized with those of the control at each passage. h Populations and i MFI of the positive marker-stained MSCs in each group. *p < 0.05 compared to the control group, and ^#p < 0.05 compared to the HT 41ºC group