Platelet-derived growth factor promotes the proliferation of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells
Pubin Qiu1, Wencong Song, Zhiwei Niu
1College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Stem Cell Engineering and Technology Research Center, Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of Agriculture Ministry of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
Insights
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) significantly enhances human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) proliferation in vitro at concentrations up to 50 ng/ml. Higher concentrations inhibit proliferation, with cell death occurring at 200 ng/ml.
Area of Science:
- Stem Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are crucial for tissue regeneration.
- Umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) offer a promising source for cell-based therapies.
- Understanding factors that promote UC-MSC proliferation is vital for therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on human UC-MSC proliferation.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which PDGF influences UC-MSC growth and survival.
Main Methods:
- Human UC-MSCs were treated with varying concentrations of PDGF.
- Cell proliferation and viability were assessed using cell counting and BrdU assays.
- Gene expression analysis (RT-PCR, QRT-PCR) of PDGF receptors, proliferation markers, cell cycle regulators, and pluripotency genes was performed.
Main Results:
- PDGF promoted UC-MSC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, with optimal effects observed between 10-50 ng/ml.
- Proliferation and anti-apoptotic capacity were enhanced in PDGF-treated cells.
- Key proliferation genes (C-MYC, PCNA, TERT) and cell cycle genes (cyclin A, cyclin 1, CDK2) were upregulated.
- High PDGF concentrations (>100 ng/ml) inhibited proliferation, leading to cell death at 200 ng/ml.
- Pluripotency gene OCT4 expression remained unchanged.
Conclusions:
- PDGF effectively promotes human UC-MSC proliferation in vitro within a specific concentration range.
- PDGF enhances UC-MSC proliferation by upregulating cell cycle and proliferation-related genes.
- The study provides insights into optimizing conditions for UC-MSC expansion for therapeutic use.
Abstract:
This study was designed to investigate the effect of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on the proliferation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) and further explore the mechanism of PDGF in promoting the proliferation of UC-MSCs. The human UC-MSCs were treated with different concentrations of PDGF, and the effects were evaluated by counting the cell number, the cell viability, the expression of PDGF receptors analyzed by RT-PCR, and the detection of the gene expression of cell proliferation, cell cycle and pluripotency, and Brdu assay by immunofluorescent staining and Quantitative real-time (QRT-PCR). The results showed that PDGF could promote the proliferation of UC-MSCs in vitro in a dose-dependent way, and 10 to 50 ng/ml PDGF had a significant proliferation effect on UC-MSCs; the most obvious concentration was 50 ng/ml. Significant inhibition on the proliferation of UC-MSCs was observed when the concentration of PDGF was higher than 100 ng/ml, and all cells died when the concentration reached 200 ng/ml PDGF. The PDGF-treated cells had stronger proliferation and antiapoptotic capacity than the control group by Brdu staining. The expression of the proliferation-related genes C-MYC, PCNA and TERT and cell cycle-related genes cyclin A, cyclin 1 and CDK2 were up-regulated in PDGF medium compared with control. However, pluripotent gene OCT4 was not significantly different between cells cultured in PDGF and cells analyzed by immunofluorescence and QRT-PCR. The PDGF could promote the proliferation of human UC-MSCs in vitro.
