Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) are adult somatic cells genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state. Fibroblast (FB) is the adult somatic cell most commonly used for reprogramming and is defined by spindle-shape morphology, plastic-adherence and expression of several markers. Nonetheless, such properties also define Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), that also share with dermal FB the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondroblasts. Moving from the hypothesis that the most striking difference between FBs and MSCs is in the name, we isolated and cultured human dermal and visceral FBs from tissue waste fragments of patients undergoing surgical procedures, and evaluated their morphology and expression of markers typical of MSCs, at gene and protein level. Additionally, we analyzed synthesis and release of specific growth factors in culture medium and, finally, we tested FB ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondroblasts. Interestingly, all FBs in culture adhered to plastic culture dishes, expressed markers typical of MSCs, like CD90, CD105, CD146,SSEA-4, ECM2, ID-1, and were morphologically undistinguishable. As reported for MSCs, FBs released EGF, FGF-4, GDNF, HGF, IGF, TGF-b and VEGF, and were capable of differentiating into cells of mesodermal origin. Our findings raise the question of whether FBs and MSCs are not admittedly the same population.We might infer that previously described differences are due to different stages of differentiation, which also account for reports on high variability in both expression of mesenchymal markers by MSCs and efficiency of FB reprogramming to iPSCs.
Fibroblast Looks Like a Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Talks Like a Mesenchymal Stem Cell: is It a Mesenchymal Stem Cell in Disguise?
Nurzynska D;Montagnani S;
2017-01-01
Abstract
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) are adult somatic cells genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state. Fibroblast (FB) is the adult somatic cell most commonly used for reprogramming and is defined by spindle-shape morphology, plastic-adherence and expression of several markers. Nonetheless, such properties also define Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), that also share with dermal FB the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondroblasts. Moving from the hypothesis that the most striking difference between FBs and MSCs is in the name, we isolated and cultured human dermal and visceral FBs from tissue waste fragments of patients undergoing surgical procedures, and evaluated their morphology and expression of markers typical of MSCs, at gene and protein level. Additionally, we analyzed synthesis and release of specific growth factors in culture medium and, finally, we tested FB ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondroblasts. Interestingly, all FBs in culture adhered to plastic culture dishes, expressed markers typical of MSCs, like CD90, CD105, CD146,SSEA-4, ECM2, ID-1, and were morphologically undistinguishable. As reported for MSCs, FBs released EGF, FGF-4, GDNF, HGF, IGF, TGF-b and VEGF, and were capable of differentiating into cells of mesodermal origin. Our findings raise the question of whether FBs and MSCs are not admittedly the same population.We might infer that previously described differences are due to different stages of differentiation, which also account for reports on high variability in both expression of mesenchymal markers by MSCs and efficiency of FB reprogramming to iPSCs.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
