title: Ca(2+) and EGF induce the differentiation of human embryo mesenchymal stem cells into epithelial-like cells.
abstract: The mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) occurs in organ development and anti-tumorigenesis. We have investigated the effects of calcium (Ca(2+)) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSCs) differentiation into epithelial-like cells. hMSCs lost their biological characteristics after EGF transfection, and MET was achieved by adding 0.4 mmol Ca(2+). Western blotting and immunofluorescence showed expression of EGF, keratin, keratin 19 (K19), β1-integrin, E-cadherin and phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (p-FAK, Ser-910) increased in hMSCs infected with EGF and exposed to Ca(2+), although Smad3 activation was downregulated. hMSCs co-stimulated with EGF transfection and Ca(2+) can therefore differentiate into epithelial-like cells in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.|Burns Institute of People's Liberation Army, Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Minjuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Houqi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D002413:Cations, Divalent; C497790:SMAD3 protein, human; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D002118:Calcium
keywords: E-cadherin; EGF; MET; Smad3; hMSCs; p-FAK; p-Smad3