Jornal de pesquisa e terapia com células-tronco

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Migration of Human Fetal Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Possible Involvement of GPCR and MMPs

Jennifer P. Newman, Toh Xin Yi, Jerry K. Y. Chan, Berwini Endaya and Paula Lam

Previously, we have demonstrated that not all adult human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells can migrate efficiently towards tumor cells. In the current study, we attempt to address whether different samples of human fetal bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hfMSC) also exhibit different migratory capacities toward tumors as was found to be the case with adult human MSC. Further, we are keen to explore the underlying mechanism of how hfMSC home to tumor cells. Using modified Boyden chamber assay, we demonstrated that hfMSC migrate at an efficiency comparable or better than the highly migratory adult MSC. Unlike the adult MSC, the extent of migration was not correlated to the expression and activity of MMP1. Rather, it appeared to be dependent in part on the PAR1 expression which may in turn be modulated by GPCR signal pathways. Additional evaluation will need to be done to further confirm the exact migratory mechanism. Nevertheless, hfMSC may potentially serve as equally efficient carriers of therapeutic genes to tumors.