title: The effects of mesenchymal stem cells on lymphoblastic leukemia cell proliferation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a new approach to the treatment of several neoplastic or non-neoplastic disorders. Their potential to repair damaged tissues through trans differentiation in conjunction with their immunomodulatory ability made them promising candidates for cell-based immunotherapy and regenerative medicine. In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of MSCs on proliferation, apoptosis and gene expression profile of the acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line CCRF-CEM.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiments were performed after MSCs and CCRF-CEM cells were co-cultured for 72 hrs. We analyzed the gene expression patterns to predict oncogenic pathway dysregulation in the cell groups by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in co-cultured CCRF-CEM cells compared to the control. Furthermore, growth factors, p53, Bax and Caspase-9 expressions were increased and cell-signaling gene expressions decreased significantly. Despite increased levels of growth factors (CTGF, VEGF, FGF, EGFR), the increased apoptosis level was triggered by p53/ Bax.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study we have shown that human MSCs have inhibitory effect on their neighboring malignant leukemia cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Vildan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bozok Cetintas
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aktug
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oltulu
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keskinoglu
authors.forename: Buket
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erer Del Castello
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taskiran
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma