Molecular Imaging for Comparison of Different Growth Factors on Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells’ Survival and Proliferation In Vivo

Abstract EN

Introduction.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) have emerged as promising cell candidates but with poor survival after transplantation.

This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of VEGF, bFGF, and IGF-1 on BMSCs’ viability and proliferation both in vivo and in vitro using bioluminescence imaging (BLI).

Methods.

BMSCs were isolated from β-actin-Fluc+ transgenic FVB mice, which constitutively express firefly luciferase.

Apoptosis was induced by hypoxia preconditioning for up to 24 h followed by flow cytometry and TUNEL assay.

106 BMSCs with/without growth factors were injected subcutaneously into wild type FVB mice’s backs.

Survival of BMSCs was longitudinally monitored using bioluminescence imaging (BLI) for 5 weeks.

Protein expression of Akt, p-Akt, PARP, and caspase-3 was detected by Western blot.

Results.

Hypoxia-induced apoptosis was significantly attenuated by bFGF and IGF-1 compared with VEGF and control group in vitro ( P < 0.05 ).

When combined with matrigel, IGF-1 showed the most beneficial effects in protecting BMSCs from apoptosis in vivo.

The phosphorylation of Akt had a higher ratio in the cells from IGF-1 group.

Conclusion.

IGF-1 could protect BMSCs from hypoxia-induced apoptosis through activation of p-Akt/Akt pathway.