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Updated: May 13, 2026

Stimulation of Notch Signaling in Mouse Osteoclast Precursors
Published on: February 28, 2017
Notch signaling regulates CXCR4 expression and the migration of mesenchymal stem cells
Juan Xie1, Wen Wang, Jing-Wen Si
1Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Abstract:
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used to repair injured tissues through immune-suppression and/or cell replace mechanisms. However, a significant barrier to MSC therapy is insufficient MSC engraftment in injured tissues after systemic administration. Here, we report that cell surface, total protein, and mRNA levels of CXCR4 were significantly increased in MSCs when Notch signaling was interrupted by γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI) or knockout of the transcription factor RBP-J, which mediates signaling from all four mammalian Notch receptors. The GSI-treated or RBP-J deficient MSCs showed stronger migration toward stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) than that of the control. In a mouse hepatic ischemia/reperfusion model, RBP-J deficient MSCs migrated into the injured liver tissues at a significantly higher efficiency than that of the control MSCs. Mice transfused with RBP-J deficient MSCs showed reduced liver damage. Therefore, Notch signaling regulates MSC migration and function, at least partially via the modulation of CXCR4 expression.
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