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Background information. Although MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) and fibroblasts have been well studied, differences between these two cell types are not fully understood. We therefore comparatively analysed antigen and gene profiles, colony‐forming ability and differentiation potential of four human cell types in vitro: commercially available skin‐derived fibroblasts [hSDFs (human skin‐derived fibroblasts)], adipose tissue‐derived stem cells [hASCs (human adipose tissue‐derived stem cells)], embryonic lung fibroblasts (WI38) and dermal microvascular endothelial cells [hECs (human dermal microvascular endothelial cells)].

Results. hSDFs, hASCs and WI38 exhibited a similar spindle‐like morphology and expressed same antigen profiles: positive for MSC markers (CD44, CD73 and CD105) and fibroblastic markers [collagen I, HSP47 (heat shock protein 47), vimentin, FSP (fibroblast surface protein) and αSMA …