[Cytoskeleton remodeling of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells induced by fibroblast growth factor 2]

Objective To investigate the effects of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) on the cytoskeleton and morphology of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Methods Morphological and cytoskeleton changes of BMSCs were observed by scanning electron microscopy and rhodamine-phalloidin staining in Transwell^TM co-culture system of rat vascular endothelial cells (RAECs) and BMSCs. The content of FGF-2 in cell supernatants were detected by ELISA, and the mRNA expression of FGF-2 in both conventional and co-cultured cells were evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR. NVP-BGJ398, an inhibitor of FGF-2 receptor was added into the co-culture system to block FGF-2 signal and its effect on BMSCs skeleton was observed. Recombinant FGF-2 was supplemented into the conventional medium of BMSCs to further verify the effect of exogenous FGF-2. Results After co-cultured with RAECs, BMSCs gradually stretched, contracted and formed a large number of filopodia. The content of FGF-2 increased in the co-culture system and was mainly secreted by RAECs. Cytoskeleton remodeling of BMSCs was significantly blocked by the inhibitor of FGF-2 receptor and the cells were mostly short spindle-shaped and arranged in a spiral pattern. Exogenous FGF-2 promoted the contraction and edge stretching of BMSCs, forming filopodia with staggered distribution. Conclusion FGF-2 secreted by RAECs induces cytoskeletal remodeling of BMSCs.