Project description:Pathological processes like osteoporosis or steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the hip are accompanied by increased bone marrow adipogenesis. Such disorder of adipogenic/osteogenic differentiation, which affects also bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) contributes to bone loss during aging. Therefore, we investigated the effects of extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from human (h)BMSCs during different stages of osteogenic differentiation on osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacity of naïve hBMSCs.
Project description:Extracellular nucleotides are potent signaling molecules mediating cell-specific biological functions. We previously demonstrated that adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) inhibits the proliferation while stimulating the migration, in vitro and in vivo, of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-hMSC). Here, we investigated the effects of ATP on BM-hMSC differentiation capacity. Molecular analysis showed that ATP treatment modulated the expression of several genes (e.g. wnt-pathway-related genes) governing osteoblastic and adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. Functional studies demonstrated that ATP, under specific culture conditions, stimulated adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation by significantly increasing the lipid accumulation and the expression levels of the adipogenic master gene PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma) and by promoting the mineralization and the expression of the osteoblast-related gene RUNX2 (Runt-related transcription factor 2), respectively. BM-hMSCs cells were transiently exposed to ATP 1mM for 24 hours (ATP pre-treatment) before starting differentiation induction. Then, BM-hMSCs were cultured under adipogenic/osteogenic conditions. Gene Expression Profile was performed on differentiate cells after 3 weeks of induction culture.
Project description:LncRNA transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing control undifferentiated HMSC with Day3 and Day6 adipogenic differentiation stages
Project description:Extracellular nucleotides are potent signaling molecules mediating cell-specific biological functions. We previously demonstrated that adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) inhibits the proliferation while stimulating the migration, in vitro and in vivo, of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-hMSC). Here, we investigated the effects of ATP on BM-hMSC differentiation capacity. Molecular analysis showed that ATP treatment modulated the expression of several genes (e.g. wnt-pathway-related genes) governing osteoblastic and adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. Functional studies demonstrated that ATP, under specific culture conditions, stimulated adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation by significantly increasing the lipid accumulation and the expression levels of the adipogenic master gene PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma) and by promoting the mineralization and the expression of the osteoblast-related gene RUNX2 (Runt-related transcription factor 2), respectively.
Project description:LncRNA transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing control undifferentiated HMSC with Day3 and Day6 adipogenic differentiation stages Three-condition experiment, Day0 vs. Day3 vs Day6 cells. Day0: 4 replicates, Day3: 3 replicates and Day6: 3 replicates.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.
Project description:Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are master regulators of gene expression and have recently emerged as potential innovative therapeutic targets. The deregulation of lncRNA expression patterns has been associated with age-related and noncommunicable diseases, including osteoporosis and bone tumors. However, the specific role of lncRNAs in physiological or pathological conditions in the bone tissue still needs to be further clarified, for their exploitation as therapeutic tools. In the present study, we evaluate the potential of the lncRNA CASC2 as a regulator of osteogenic differentiation and mineralization. Results show that CASC2 expression is decreased during osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal cells (MSCs). CASC2 knockdown using small interfering RNA (siCASC2) increases the expression of the late osteogenic marker Bone Sialoprotein (BSP), but does not impact ALP staining levels, or the expression of early osteogenic transcripts including RUNX2 and OPG. Although siCASC2 does not impact hMSC proliferation nor apoptosis, it promotes the mineralization of hMSC cultured under osteogenic-inducing conditions, as shown by the increase of calcium deposits. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis revealed that 89 proteins are regulated by CASC2 at late osteogenic stages, including proteins associated with bone diseases or anthropometric and musculoskeletal traits. Specifically, the Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) is highly enhanced by CASC2 knockdown at late stages of osteogenic differentiation, at either transcriptional and protein level. Inhibition of COMP impairs osteoblasts mineralization as well as the expression of BSP levels. The results indicate that lncRNA CASC2 regulates late osteogenesis and mineralization in hMSC via COMP and BSP. In conclusion, this study suggests lncRNA CASC2 as a potential new therapeutic target in bone mineralization.