OCT4 Silencing Triggers Its Epigenetic Repression and Impairs the Osteogenic and Adipogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.

ABSTRACT: Mechanisms mediating mesenchymal stromal/stem cells' (MSCs) multipotency are unclear. Although the expression of the pluripotency factor OCT4 has been detected in MSCs, whether it has a functional role in adult stem cells is still controversial. We hypothesized that a physiological expression level of OCT4 is important to regulate MSCs' multipotency and trigger differentiation in response to environmental signals. Here, we specifically suppressed OCT4 in MSCs by using siRNA technology before directed differentiation. OCT4 expression levels were reduced by 82% in siOCT4-MSCs, compared with controls. Interestingly, siOCT4-MSCs also presented a hypermethylated OCT4 promoter. OCT4 silencing significantly impaired the ability of MSCs to differentiate into osteoblasts. Histologic and macroscopic

SUBMITTER: Malvicini R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6651015 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature