A high-throughput siRNA library screen identifies osteogenic suppressors in human mesenchymal stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Tissue-specific (or adult) stem/progenitor cells are regarded as the source for normal tissue homeostasis and tissue repair. They also provide tremendous promise for regenerative medicine because of their capacity to proliferate and differentiate into a variety of mature cell types. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, adipocytes, chondrocytes, muscle cells, and neurons. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these differentiation processes are poorly understood. We screened a synthetic siRNA library targeting 5,000 human genes to identify the endogenous repressors of osteogenic specification, which when silenced could initiate differentiation of hMSCs into osteoblasts. This screen yielded 53 candidate suppressors, and 12 of those were further confi

SUBMITTER: Zhao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1887565 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature