[Expression of BMP-4 in stromal cells in vitro derived from human aorta-gonad-mesonephros region]

The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of BMP-4 in stromal cells in vitro derived from human aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region. Stromal cells derived from human AGM region (hAGM S1-S5) and fibroblasts derived from human fetal trunk (hFT) were cultured in vitro. RT-PCR was used to analyze the expression of BMP-4 in hAGM S1-S5 stromal cells at mRNA level. And BMP-4 level was detected in the supernatant of hAGM S1-S5 stromal cells by ELISA assay. hFT cells were used as control group. The results showed that the heterogenous hAGM S1-S5 stromal cells displyed shapes of fibroblast-like and endothelial-like cells. hAGM S1-S5 stromal cells expressed BMP-4 mRNA, but fetal trunk fibroblasts (hFT) did not express BMP-4 mRNA. In the supernatant of hAGM S1-S5 cells, BMP-4 could be detected by ELISA assay ana its levels were statistically higher than that in hFT group (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between groups of hAGM S1-S5 (p > 0.05). It is concluded that human AGM-derived stromal cells in vitro express BMP-4, and the establishment of a new culture system based on the feeder cells of AGM stroma would promote the differention of embryonic stem cells into hematopoietic stem cells at a high proportion.