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Lysosomal protein surface expression discriminates fat- from bone-forming human mesenchymal precursor cells
Jiajia Xu1, Yiyun Wang1, Ching-Yun Hsu1
1Departments of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States.
Elife
|October 12, 2020
Summary
Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have distinct functions based on CD107a cell surface levels. CD107a-low MSCs promote bone formation, while CD107a-high MSCs differentiate into fat cells.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cell Biology
- Stem Cell Research
Background:
- Tissue-resident mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) reside in perivascular spaces.
- Human adipose perivascular mesenchyme harbors diverse cell populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel surface markers that distinguish functional subsets of human perivascular MSCs.
- To investigate the role of CD107a in MSC differentiation and therapeutic potential.
Main Methods:
- Antibody array profiling of human adipose perivascular mesenchyme.
- Functional assays for colony formation, osteogenesis, and adipogenesis.
- In vivo transplantation studies in mice and rats.
- RNA sequencing analysis.
Main Results:
- Sixteen novel surface antigens were identified, including endolysosomal protein CD107a.
- CD107a expression segregates MSCs into functionally distinct subsets: CD107a-low (osteoprogenitors) and CD107a-high (adipocyte progenitors).
- CD107a-low cells demonstrated significant bone formation in vivo, while CD107a-high cells did not.
- CD107a cell surface expression correlates with the transition from osteogenic to adipogenic potential.
Conclusions:
- Perivascular MSCs exhibit molecular and functional diversity.
- Cell surface CD107a expression serves as a marker for MSC differentiation potential.
- Targeting CD107a may offer therapeutic strategies for bone regeneration and adipose tissue engineering.
