Morphology and contractile gene expression of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in response to short-term cyclic uniaxial strain and TGF-β1

Neda Rashidi; Mohammad Tafazzoli-Shadpour; Nooshin Haghighipour; Mohammad-Mehdi Khani

doi:10.1515/bmt-2016-0228

Article

Morphology and contractile gene expression of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in response to short-term cyclic uniaxial strain and TGF-β₁

Neda Rashidi , Mohammad Tafazzoli-Shadpour , Nooshin Haghighipour and Mohammad-Mehdi Khani

Published/Copyright: July 12, 2017

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From the journal Biomedical Engineering / Biomedizinische Technik Volume 63 Issue 3

Abstract

Previous studies have shown smooth muscle induction in adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) caused by long-term cyclic stretch. Here we examined the capability of the short-term straining with time steps of 4, 8, 16 and 24 h alone or combined with TGF-β₁ on smooth muscle induction of rabbit ASCs. Alterations in cell morphology were quantified through the cell shape index and orientation angle, and expression levels of α-SMA, SM22-α, h-caldesmon and calponin3 markers were examined using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Moreover, F-actin cytoskeleton organization was observed by fluorescence staining. Mechanical strain either alone or combined with growth factor treatment caused significant up-regulation of both early and intermediate smooth muscle cells (SMCs) specific markers during the initial hours of stimulation peaking in 8 to 16 h. Furthermore, gradual alignment of cells perpendicular to the strain direction during loading time, and cell elongation resembling contractile SMC phenotype, together with alignment and reorganization of F-actin fibers were observed. Considering previously reported protein up-regulation in following days of straining, the effects of short-term cyclic stretch on smooth muscle induction of ASCs were revealed which can be helpful in achieving functional contractile SMCs through synergistic mechano-chemical regulation of ASCs as an appealing cell source for vascular tissue engineering.

Keywords: adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells; cell morphology; differentiation; gene expression; short-term cyclic uniaxial strain

Author Statement
Research funding: Authors state no funding involved.
Conflict of interest: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Informed consent: Informed consent is not applicable.
Ethical approval: Ethical approval is not applicable.

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Received: 2016-11-24

Accepted: 2017-04-26

Published Online: 2017-07-12

Published in Print: 2018-06-27

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/bmt-2016-0228

Keywords for this article

adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells; cell morphology; differentiation; gene expression; short-term cyclic uniaxial strain