Matrix elasticity, replicative senescence and DNA methylation patterns of mesenchymal stem cells

• Published in: Biomaterials Vol. 35; no. 24; pp. 6351 - 6358
• Main Authors: Schellenberg, Anne, Joussen, Sylvia, Moser, Kristin, Hampe, Nico, Hersch, Nils, Hemeda, Hatim, Schnitker, Jan, Denecke, Bernd, Lin, Qiong, Pallua, Norbert, Zenke, Martin, Merkel, Rudolf, Hoffmann, Bernd, Wagner, Wolfgang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2014
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Blood Platelets - metabolism; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Cellular Senescence - drug effects; Dentistry; Dimethylpolysiloxanes - pharmacology; DNA Methylation - drug effects; DNA-methylation; Elasticity; Elasticity - drug effects; Epigenetic; Extracellular Matrix - drug effects; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Humans; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate - pharmacology; Long-term culture; Mesenchymal stem cells; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - drug effects; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - metabolism; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - ultrastructure; Platelet lysate; Elasticity; Platelet lysate; Long-term culture; DNA-methylation; Epigenetic; Mesenchymal stem cells
• ISSN: 0142-9612; 1878-5905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.04.079

Abstract Matrix elasticity guides differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) but it is unclear if these effects are only transient – while the cells reside on the substrate – or if they reflect persistent lineage commitment. In this study, MSCs were continuously culture-expanded in parallel either on tissue culture plastic (TCP) or on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) gels of different elasticity to compare impact on replicative senescence, in vitro differentiation, gene expression, and DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles. The maximal number of cumulative population doublings was not affected by matrix elasticity. Differentiation towards adipogenic and osteogenic lineage was increased on soft and rigid biomaterials, respectively – but this propensity was no more evident if cells were transferred to TCP. Global gene expression profiles and DNAm profiles revealed relatively few differences in MSCs cultured on soft or rigid matrices. Furthermore, only moderate DNAm changes were observed upon culture on very soft hydrogels of human platelet lysate. Our results support the notion that matrix elasticity influences cellular behavior while the cells reside on the substrate, but it does not have major impact on cell-intrinsic lineage determination, replicative senescence or DNAm patterns.