title: Effects of hypoxic culture conditions on umbilical cord-derived human mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: Following cultivation of distinct mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) populations derived from human umbilical cord under hypoxic conditions (between 1.5% to 5% oxygen (O2)) revealed a 2- to 3-fold reduced oxygen consumption rate as compared to the same cultures at normoxic oxygen levels (21% O2). A simultaneous measurement of dissolved oxygen within the culture media from 4 different MSC donors ranged from 15 mumol/L at 1.5% O2 to 196 mumol/L at normoxic 21% O2. The proliferative capacity of the different hypoxic MSC populations was elevated as compared to the normoxic culture. This effect was paralleled by a significantly reduced cell damage or cell death under hypoxic conditions as evaluated by the cellular release of LDH whereby the measurement of caspase3/7 activity revealed little if any differences in apoptotic cell death between the various cultures. The MSC culture under hypoxic conditions was associated with the induction of hypoxia-inducing factor-alpha (HIF-1alpha) and an elevated expression of energy metabolism-associated genes including GLUT-1, LDH and PDK1. Concomitantly, a significantly enhanced glucose consumption and a corresponding lactate production could be observed in the hypoxic MSC cultures suggesting an altered metabolism of these human stem cells within the hypoxic environment.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Technische Chemie, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstrasse 5, 30167 Hannover, Germany. Kasper@iftc.uni-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Antonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavrentieva
authors.forename: Ingrida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Majore
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kasper
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hass