title: Substrate elasticity controls cell proliferation, surface marker expression and motile phenotype in amniotic fluid-derived stem cells.
abstract: The physical cues presented to stem cells by the substrate on or in which they exist have been shown to play a crucial role in regulation of their behavior. Until recently, most research has focused on the effects of substrate elasticity on differentiation capability rather than maintenance of long-term proliferation and plasticity. The main goal of the present study is to study the interaction of amniotic fluid-derived stem (AFS) cells with growth substrata of different elasticity, which may extend their application potentials. Here, we investigate the effects of elastic modulus (E'), on AFS cell proliferation, morphology, cell surface marker expression, and autocrine stimulation of cell migration. AFS cells cultured on substrates of different E' exhibited significant changes in proliferation and morphology. Immunohistochemistry revealed increased expression of cell surface markers associated with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) (CD44, CD90, CD105, and N-cadherin) in cells cultured on softer substrates. Additionally, AFS cells cultured on softer substrates induced autocrine stimulation of migration. Therefore, tailoring the elastic modulus of biomaterials to specific stiffness values is an effective method to control stem cell properties, which may modulate the effectiveness of their therapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, NC 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skardal
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atala
authors.forename: Shay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soker
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015415:Biomarkers; D003470:Culture Media