title: HIF-1α confers resistance to induced stress in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The major limiting factor in therapeutic application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is their high vulnerability during the early days of transplantation. Hence, researchers have been encouraged to find various strategies to make the cells resistant to different stresses before and after transplantation. Overexpression of HIF-1α in MSCs to confer resistance against harmful conditions was the aim of this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using an in vitro approach, we engineered MSCs to overexpress HIF-1α and then evaluated their viability following exposure to hypoxic and oxidative stresses. The inherent expression of HIF-1α was downregulated by siRNA. Viability and apoptosis of the MSCs were then evaluated in vitro following their exposure to hypoxic and oxidative stress conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whereas overexpression of HIF-1α in MSCs was protective against cell death and apoptosis triggered by hypoxic and oxidative stress conditions, its downregulation increased apoptosis and death rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study is the first to demonstrate how human MSCs can be manipulated to gain protection against stresses that potentially limit their clinical application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Asghar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kiani
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kazemi
authors.forename: Rahele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Halabian
authors.forename: Mahshid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadipour
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jahanian-Najafabadi
authors.forename: Mehryar Habibi
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Roudkenar
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D044967:Serum; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide