title: Calcitonin-induced effects on amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mesenchymal stem cells from human amniotic fluid (huAFMSCs) can differentiate into multiple lineages and are not tumorigenic after transplantation, making them good candidates for therapeutic purposes. The aim was to determine the effects of calcitonin on these huAFMSCs during osteogenic differentiation, in terms of the physiological role of calcitonin in bone homeostasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  For huAFMSCs cultured under different conditions, we assayed: expression of the calcitonin receptor, using immunolabelling techniques; proliferation and osteogenesis, using colorimetric and enzymatic assays; intracellular Ca(2+) and cAMP levels, using videomicroscopy and spectrophotometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The calcitonin receptor was expressed in proliferating and osteo-differentiated huAFMSCs. Calcitonin triggered intracellular Ca(2+) increases and cAMP production. Its presence in cell medium also induced dose-dependent inhibitory effects on proliferation and increased osteogenic differentiation of huAFMSCs, as also indicated by enhancement of specific markers and alkaline phosphatase activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data show that huAFMSCs represent a potential osteogenic model to study in-vitro cell responses to calcitonin (and other members of the calcitonin family). This leads the way to the opening of new lines of research that will add new insight both in cell therapies and in the pharmacological use of these molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, 'G. d'Annunzio' University of Chieti- Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.forename: Iolanda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: D'Alimonte
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pierdomenico
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pipino
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guarnieri
authors.forename: Giusy A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Caprara
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Antonucci
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ciccarelli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchisio
authors.forename: Assunta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandolfi
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mariggiò
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018003:Receptors, Calcitonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018003:Receptors, Calcitonin; D002116:Calcitonin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D002118:Calcium