Differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into dermal fibroblasts in vitro

► Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are potential seed cells for tissue-engineered skin. ► Tissue-derived umbilical cord MSCs (UCMSCs) can readily be isolated in vitro. ► We induce UCMSCs to differentiate into dermal fibroblasts via conditioned medium. ► Collagen type I and collagen type III mRNA level was higher in differentiated cells. ► UCMSCs-derived fibroblast-like cells strongly express fibroblast-specific protein.