Multilineage differentiation of porcine bone marrow stromal cells associated with specific gene expression pattern

There are increasing reports regarding differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) from human and various species of animals including pigs. The phenotype and function of BMSC along a mesenchymal lineage differentiation are well characterized by specific transcription factors and marker genes. However, it is not fully clear whether multilineage differentiation (osteogenesis, chondrogenesis, and adipogenesis) of BMSC is associated with a specific gene expression pattern. In the present study, we investigated the gene expression pattern of representative transcription factors and marker genes along those three mesenchymal lineages during a particular lineage differentiation of porcine BMSC by means of real-time PCR measurement. In an osteogenic medium, the mRNA levels of cbfa1, osterix, alkaline phosphatase, type 1 collagen, osteonectin, bone sialoprotein, and osteocalcin were induced stepwise. Meanwhile, sox9, specific to chondrogenic differentiation, was inhibited but not PPARgamma2 specific to adipogenic differentiation. In an adipogenic medium, adipogenic differentiation was confirmed by upregulation of PPARgamma2 and aP2 and downregulation of osteogenic genes and sox9. Chondrogenic differentiation was induced in cell pellet culture by expression of sox9, type 2 collagen, and aggrecan. Cbfa1 and PPARgamma2 were inhibited in chondrogenic medium. These results indicate that the differentiation potential of BMSC to a particular mesenchymal lineage relies upon specific gene expression pattern, namely upregulation of genes specific for this lineage and suppression of other lineage differentiation.