Serum deprivation of human marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) selects for a subpopulation of early progenitor cells with enhanced expression of OCT-4 and other embryonic genes.
Recently there has been interest in developing cell and gene therapies with adult stem cells from human bone marrow referred to as mesenchymal stem cells or marrow stromal cells (hMSCs). We incubated early-passage hMSCs in serum-free medium without cytokines or other supplements for 2 to 4 weeks. Surprisingly, a subpopulation of the cells survived serum deprivation and then began to proliferate in serum-containing medium. The cells selected by serum deprivation had longer telomeres than control cells. Also, the patterns of gene expression revealed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays and microarray data indicated that the cells selected by serum deprivation were a subpopulation of very early progenitor cells with enhanced expression of octomer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT-4) and several other genes characteristically expressed in embryonic cells.
Pochampally
Radhika R
RR
Center for Gene Therapy, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Smith
Jason R
JR
Ylostalo
Joni
J
Prockop
Darwin J
DJ
D015153:Blotting, Western; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D016615:Telomere / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012313:RNA