L. B. Buravkova

Mesenchymal stem cells from human bone marrow and adipose tissue: isolation, characterization, and differentiation potentialities.

Comparative study of cultured human bone marrow and adipose tissue (lipoaspirate) mesenchymal stem cells was carried out. The main morphological parameters, proliferative activity, expression of surface and intracellular markers of these cells were characterized. Flow cytofluorometry and histological staining showed that both cell types exhibited similar expression of CD105, CD54, CD106, HLA-I markers, were positively stained for vimentin, ASMA, collagen-1, and fibronectin, but not HLA-DR, CD117, and hemopoietic cell markers. The cells underwent differentiation into adipocytes and osteoblasts under appropriate conditions of culturing. Incubation under neuroinductive conditions led to the appearance of a cell population positively stained for type III β-tubulin (neuronal differentiation marker).

The role of cytoskeleton in cell changes under condition of simulated microgravity

Single cells and cell culture are very good model for estimation of primary effects of gravitational changes. It is suggested that cell cytoskeleton plays a key role in mechanisms of adaptation to mechanical influences including gravitational ones. Our results demonstrated that cultured cells of human vascular endothelium (correction of endotheliun) are highly sensitive to hypogravity (clinorotation) and respond by significant decrease of cell proliferative activity. Simultaneously it was noted that the formation of confluent monolayer appeared early in cultures exposed to simulated microgravity due to accelerated cells spreading. Long-term hypogravity (several hours or days) leads to significant changes of cell cytoskeleton revealed as microfilament thinning and their redistribution within cell. Such changes were observed only in monolayer cells and not in cell suspensions. Gravitational forces as known to be modificators of cell adhesive ability and determine their mobility. Hypogravity environment stimulated endothelial cell migration in culture: 24-48 hrs pre-exposition to hypogravity significantly increased endothelial cell migration resulting in 2-3-fold acceleration of mechanically injured monolayer repair. Obtained results suggest that the effects of hypogravity on cultured human endothelial cells are, possibly, associated with protein kinase C and/or adenylate cyclase activity and are accompanied by noticeable functional cell changes.

Mesenchymal stem cells and hypoxia: Where are we?

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are involved in the organization and maintenance of tissue integrity. MSCs have also attracted attention as a promising tool for cell therapy and regenerative medicine. However, their usage is limited due to cell impairment induced by an extremely harsh microenvironment during transplantation ex vivo. The microenvironment of MSCs in tissue depots is characterized by rather low oxygen consumption, demonstrating that MSCs might be quite resistant to oxygen limitation. However, accumulated data revealed that the response of MSCs to hypoxic conditions is rather controversial, demonstrating both damaging and ameliorating effects. Here, we make an attempt to summarize recent knowledge on the survival of MSCs under low oxygen conditions of varying duration and severity and to elucidate the mechanisms of MSC resistance/sensitivity to hypoxic impact.

Characteristics of human lipoaspirate-isolated mesenchymal stromal cells cultivated under lower oxygen tension

The effect of reduced oxygen concentration in the gas phase on the proliferation, viability, and immunophenotype of human mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from lipoaspirate (lMSC) has been investigated. It was shown that the proliferation activity of cells under hypoxic conditions (5% O2) was, on average, 2.9 times higher than those cultivated under routine (normoxic) (20% O2) conditions. Decreased oxygen level in the culture medium did not cause any change in lMSC viability or immunophenotype. Thus, the permanent cultivation of lMSC in medium with a lower oxygen tension may be an efficient approach to obtaining a higher mass of cells that maintain their characteristics over a shorter period of time, which is a requirement for regenerative medicine.

Cytoskeleton structure and adhesion properties of human stromal precursors under conditions of simulated microgravity

During spaceflight and in simulated microgravity (SMG), cytoskeleton rearrangements were observed in lymphocytes, glial cells and osteoblasts. One potential mechanism for the cytoskeletal gravisensitivity of cells is the disruption of the extracellular matrix and integrin interactions. We investigated the effect of SMG on the structure of the actin cytoskeleton, distribution of cellular vinculin, the expression of some integrin subtypes and cellular adhesion molecules in cultured mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) derived from human bone marrow in vitro. Simulated microgravity was produced by desktop RPM equipment (Dutch Space, Netherlands). Cells were exposed to simulated microgravity for 30 min to 120 h. The results showed that the actin cytoskeleton was reorganized very quickly (30 min). Later (6, 24, and 48 h), the number of cells with disrupted actin cytoskeletons was increased; however, after 120 h of exposure, cells partly regained their F-actin structures. RPM exposure augmented the number of cells that express integrin-α2. We also observed a decrease in the number of VCAM-1-positive cells and changes in the expression of ICAM-1. Our findings indicate that SMG induces reversible microfilament reorganization in hMSCs and alters their adhesion properties.

Low level of O2 inhibits commitment of cultured mesenchymal stromal precursor cells from the adipose tissue in response to osteogenic stimuli.

Mesenchymal stromal precursor cells from human lipoaspirate (lMSC) cultured at 5% O2 formed 50% less mineralized matrix in response to osteogenic induction than cells cultured under standard conditions (20% O2). After lMSC percultured at 5% O2 were transferred to normoxic conditions (20% O2), they produced the same amount of matrix as lMSC permanently cultured at 20% O2. Hence, hypoxia inhibited the commitment of lMSC under the effect of osteogenic stimuli, which can be important in reparative and regenerative medicine.

Specific Interaction of Cultured Human Mesenchymal and Hemopoietic Stem Cells under Conditions of Reduced Oxygen Content

We studied the effect of reduced oxygen content (5%) on the phenotype and functional activity of cultured human mesenchymal stem cells. The expression of main immunophenotypic markers for mesenchymal stem cells (CD13, CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105, and HLA-I) remained practically unchanged under conditions of hypoxia. The expression of cell adhesion molecules (CD54 and CD106) increased during coculturing of mesenchymal stem cells and hemopoietic stem cells. These changes were accompanied by increased production of hemopoietins (interleukin-6 and interleukin-8) and enhanced colony-forming capacity of hemopoietic stem cells. Coculturing of mesenchymal stem cells and hemopoietic stem cells during hypoxia was followed by increased formation of hemopoietic islets and intensive production of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and vascular endothelial growth factor (compared to cultures under normoxic conditions).

Morphofunctional status and osteogenic differentiation potential of human mesenchymal stromal precursor cells during in vitro modeling of microgravity effects.

We studied the effects of long-term (20-day) simulated microgravity (clinostatic exposure) and osteogenic differentiation stimuli on cultured mesenchymal stromal precursor cells isolated from human bone marrow. Clinostatic exposure significantly reduced proliferative activity of mesenchymal stem cells in comparison with the static and dynamic control, increased the number of large flat cells in the culture, and stimulated migration activity of cells. Phenotypic studies of surface antigens (CD90, CD54, CD106, CD105, CD34, CD45, class 1 HLA) during clinostatic exposure of mesenchymal stem cell cultures showed differences in their expression between experimental and control groups. Studies of osteogenesis of precursor cell showed that cell differentiation potential can be directed towards osteogenesis by a combination of clinostatic exposure and differentiation stimuli. The results confirm gravity sensitivity of human bone marrow precursor cells and open new vistas for understanding of the mechanisms of bone tissue loss in humans under conditions of space mission.

Subpopulation Composition and Activation of T Lymphocytes during Coculturing with Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Medium with Different O2 Content

The concentration of O2 during coculturing practically did not affect the subpopulation composition of T lymphocytes (CD3+/CD4+, CD3+/CD8+, CD3+/CD16+/CD56+ T cells) under conditions of PHA-induced activation. Coculturing with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) led to a significant decrease in the ratio of lymphocytes carrying activation markers (CD3+/CD25+ and CD3+/HLA-DR+) and increase in the number of CD3+/CD16+/CD56+ T cells. The percent of activated HLA-DR+ T cells in a heterotypic culture with MSC at 5% O2 was much lower than that observed under normal conditions of culturing (20% O2). Our results suggest that antigen presentation by T lymphocytes due to HLA-DR expression can be reduced in the target tissues at low concentration of O2, while the interaction between allogeneic MSC probably contributes to more significant inhibition of the immune response.

Mechanical characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells under impact of silica-based nanoparticles

Silica-based nanoparticles (NPs) pose great potential for medical and biological applications; however, their interactions with living cells have not been investigated in full. The objective of this study was to analyze the mechanical characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells when cultured in the presence of silica (Si) and silica-boron (SiB) nanoparticles. Cell stiffness was measured using atomic force microscopy; F-actin structure was evaluated using TRITC-phalloidin by confocal microscopy. The obtained data suggested that the cell stiffness increased within the following line: ‘Control’ - ‘Si’ - ‘SiB’ (either after 1-h cultivation or 24-h incubation). Moreover, the cell stiffness was found to be higher after 1-h cultivation as compared to 24-h cultivation. This result shows that there is a two-phase process of particle diffusion into cells and that the particles interact directly with the membrane and, further, with the submembranous cytoskeleton. Conversely, the intensity of phalloidin fluorescence dropped within the same line: Control - Si - SiB. It could be suggested that the effects of silica-based particles may result in structural reorganization of cortical cytoskeleton with subsequent stiffness increase and concomitant F-actin content decrease (for example, in recruitment of additional actin-binding proteins within membrane and regrouping of actin filaments).