Differences in chemotaxis of human mesenchymal stem cells and cervical cancer cells

In the last decade, there has been a rapid expansion in tumor targeted therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) based on their unique tropism towards cancer cells. Despite similarities in morphology, immunophenotype, and differential potent in vitro, MSCs originated from different tissues do not necessarily have equivalent biological behaviors. It is important to screen the most chemotactic MSCs to cancer cells. In this study, different MSCs were isolated from various human tissues including adipose, umbilical cord, amniotic membrane, and chorion. The chemotaxis of human MSCs to cervical cancer cells was measured by CCK-8, ELISA and Transwell invasion assays. Western blotting was performed to explore the underlying mechanisms. MSCs derived from distinct sources can be differently recruited to cervical cancer cells, among which chorion-derived MSC (CD-MSC) possessed the strongest tropic capacity. CXCL12 was found to be highly secreted by cervical cancer cells, in parallel with the expression of CXCR4 in all MSCs. CD-MSC displayed the highest level of CXCR4. These results indicated that CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway contributed to the different chemotaxis to cervical cancer cells of each MSCs. This study proposed that CD-MSC with the highest CXCR4 expression is a promising therapeutic vehicle for targeted therapy in cervical cancer.