title: Roles of FGF-2 and TGF-beta/FGF-2 on differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells towards nucleus pulposus-like phenotype.
abstract: Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are reported to have the capability of differentiating towards nucleus pulposus (NP)-like phenotype under specific culture conditions. So far, the effects of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and the cocktail effects of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and FGF-2 on MSCs remain unclear. Therefore, we designed this study to clarify these effects. MSCs were cultured in conditioned medium containing FGF-2 or TGF-beta/FGF-2, and compared with basal or TGF-beta medium. The groups with FGF-2 showed the increase of cell proliferation. Functional gene markers and novel NP markers decreased in FGF-2 group, together with functional protein expression. Pho-ERK1/2 and pho-Smad3 differed significantly in the two conditioned groups. All these results suggest FGF-2 promotes MSCs' proliferation, synergistically with TGF-beta. However, FGF-2 plays a negative role in cartilage homeostasis. We also demonstrate that FGF-2 has no positive effect in differentiating MSCs into NP-like cells, but hinders the acceleration effect of TGF-beta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou, Zhejiang , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaopeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yiqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chengzhen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qixin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000166:cytology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D010641:Phenotype; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
keywords: Differentiation; fibroblast growth factor-2; mesenchymal stem cells; nucleus pulposus-like phenotype; transforming growth factor-beta