title: Sphingosine 1-phosphate induces differentiation of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells towards smooth muscle cells.
abstract: Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid which regulates multiple biological parameters in a number of cell types, including stem cells. Here we report, for the first time, that S1P dose-dependently stimulates differentiation of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASMC) towards smooth muscle cells. Indeed, S1P not only induced the expression of smooth muscle cell-specific proteins such as alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha SMA) and transgelin, but also profoundly affected ASMC morphology by enhancing cytoskeletal F-actin assembly, which incorporated alpha SMA. More importantly, S1P challenge was responsible for the functional appearance of Ca(2+) currents, characteristic of differentiated excitable cells such as smooth muscle cells. By employing various agonists and antagonists to inhibit S1P receptor subtypes, S1P(2) turned out to be critical for the pro-differentiating effect of S1P, while S1P(3) appeared to play a secondary role. This study individuates an important role of S1P in AMSC which can be exploited to favour vascular regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Florence, Viale G. B. Morgagni 50, 50134, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nincheri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Squecco
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernacchioni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borgognoni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benvenuti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Francini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruni