Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor protects mesenchymal stem cells.
BACKGROUND
We have previously demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) administration protects the intestines from injury in a mouse model of intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury. We have also shown that heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a potent intestinal cytoprotective agent in vivo that can protect the intestines by way of its effects on stem cells. The goal of the present study was to examine the effects of HB-EGF on both amniotic fluid (AF)- and bone marrow (BM)-derived MSCs in vitro.


METHODS
MSCs were isolated from the AF and BM of pan-EGFP mice, grown in MSC-specific culture medium, and purified by sequential passages according to their adherence properties. Pluripotency was confirmed by induced differentiation. After incubation of MSCs with HB-EGF, proliferation was quantified using the CyQuant cell proliferation assay kit under normoxic and anoxic conditions. Chemotaxis was quantified using the CHEMICON QCM cell migration kit, and apoptosis was determined using caspase-3 immunohistochemistry after exposure of the MSCs to anoxic stress.


RESULTS
AF-MSCs and BM-MSCs showed significantly increased proliferation and migration in response to HB-EGF. HB-EGF significantly protected AF-MSCs and BM-MSCs from anoxia-induced apoptosis. The proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects of HB-EGF were even more pronounced in AF-MSCs than in BM-MSCs.


CONCLUSIONS
These results have demonstrated that HB-EGF acts as a mitogenic and chemotactic agent for MSCs that protects MSCs from injury. These findings could have important implications for future experiments designed to use MSCs to protect the intestines from injury.
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Perinatal Research, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Daniel J
DJ
Watkins
Yu
Y
Zhou
Chun-Liang
CL
Chen
Amanda
A
Darbyshire
Gail E
GE
Besner
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
C587884:Hbegf protein, mouse; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins