Culturing of human mesenchymal stem cells as three-dimensional aggregates induces functional expression of CXCR4 that regulates adhesion to endothelial cells.

ABSTRACT: Culture-expanded human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are increasingly used in a variety of preclinical and clinical studies. However, these cells have a low rate of engraftment to bone marrow or damaged tissues. Several laboratories have shown that during isolation and subculturing mesenchymal stem cells quickly lose the expression of CXCR4, the key receptor responsible for lymphocytes and hematopoietic stem cell homing. Here we show that culturing of hMSCs as three-dimensional aggregates (hMSC spheroids) restores CXCR4 functional expression. Expression of CXCR4 inversely correlates with the secretion of SDF-1 by hMSCs. Cells from hMSC spheroids up-regulate expression of CD49b, the alpha2 integrin subunit, and suppress the expression of CD49d, the alpha4 integrin subunit. Transfer of cell

SUBMITTER: Potapova IA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2442325 | biostudies-literature | 2008 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature