Activation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

Methods Mol Biol. 2011:717:245-53. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-024-9_14.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells and exhibit two main characteristics that define stem cells: self-renewal and differentiation. MSCs can migrate to sites of injury, inflammation, and tumor. Moreover, MSCs undergo myofibroblast-like differentiation, including increased production of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in response to transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a growth factor commonly secreted by tumor cells to evade immune surveillance. Based on our previous finding, hMSCs become activated and resemble carcinoma-associated myofibroblasts upon prolonged exposure to conditioned medium from MDAMB231 human breast cancer cells. Here, we show that keratinocyte-conditioned medium (KCM) induces differentiation of MSCs to resemble dermal myofibroblast-like cells using immunofluorescence techniques demonstrating punctate vinculin staining, and F-actin filaments.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Actins / ultrastructure
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique / methods*
  • Humans
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Myofibroblasts / cytology
  • Vinculin / metabolism
  • Vinculin / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Actins
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Vinculin