title: Expression of heregulin and ErbB receptors in mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mesenchymal stem cells are a promising cell type for cell transplantation in myocardial infarction. Type I neuregulins-1, also known as heregulin, can promote the survival of cardiomyocytes and stimulate angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of heregulin and ErbB receptors in mesenchymal stem cells, then further detect the secretion of heregulin and the changes in expression of heregulin and ErbB receptors under conditions of serum deprivation and hypoxia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mesenchymal stem cells isolated from bone marrow of 180 g male Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured. Passage 3 cells were detected experimentally by regular reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real time PCR and Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heregulin and ErbB receptors were expressed in mesenchymal stem cells, and all three ErbB receptors mRNA expressions were significantly down-regulated by serum deprivation and hypoxia, but serum deprivation and hypoxia significantly increased the protein expression of heregulin. Serum deprivation and hypoxia more than 12 hours could induce the secretion of heregulin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mesenchymal stem cells can express all three ErbB receptors and heregulin. Serum deprivation and hypoxia decrease the mRNA expression of ErbB receptors, increase the expression of heregulin, and activate the secretion of heregulin.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gui
authors.forename: Jian-an
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ai-na
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Tie-long
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xian-bao
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Rong-hua
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D020890:Neuregulin-1; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB; D012333:RNA, Messenger