Expression of heregulin and ErbB receptors in mesenchymal stem cells.
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.
Gui
Chun
C
Division of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China.
Wang
Jian-an
JA
He
Ai-na
AN
Chen
Tie-long
TL
Liu
Xian-bao
XB
Luo
Rong-hua
RH
Jiang
Jun
J
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
D020890:Neuregulin-1; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB; D012333:RNA, Messenger