The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic component of tissue architecture that physically supports cells and actively influences their behavior. In the context of bone regeneration, cellsecreted ECMs have become of interest as they reproduce tissue-architecture and modulate the promising properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We have previously created an in vitro model of human osteoblast-derived devitalized ECM that was osteopromotive for MSCs. The aim of this study was to identify ECM regulatory proteins able to modulate MSC differentiation to broaden the spectrum of MSC clinical applications. To this end, we created two additional models of devitalized ECMs with different mineralization phenotypes. Our results showed that the ECM derived from osteoblast-differentiated MSCs had increased osteogenic potential compared to ECM derived from undifferentiated MSCs and non-ECM cultures. Proteomic analysis revealed that structural ECM proteins and ribosomal proteins were upregulated in the ECM from undifferentiated MSCs. A similar response profile was obtained by treating osteoblast-differentiating MSCs with Activin-A. Extracellular proteins were upregulated in Activin-A ECM, whereas mitochondrial and membrane proteins were downregulated. In summary, this study illustrates that the composition of different MSC-secreted ECMs is important to regulate the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. These models of devitalized ECMs could be used to modulate MSC properties to regulate bone quality.
K E Y W O R D SActivin-A, bone regeneration, extracellular matrix, mesenchymal stromal cells Due to the role of the ECM on actively modulating MSC osteogenic differentiation and to the increasing interest of using MSCs for cell-based therapies, the aim of our study was to identify ECM proteins that are involved in osteoblast differentiation and mineralization making these proteins suitable candidates to control bone quality. To this end, we created in vitro ECM models with extremely different mineralization phenotypes, in order to get more insights into the effect of the ECM composition on MSC behavior.We have previously created an in vitro model of human MSC- 2 | MATERIALS AND METHODS
| Cell culture and ECM preparationsHuman bone marrow-derived MSCs were used to produce the devitalized ECM as previously described (Baroncelli M., unpublished data). Briefly, commercially available MSCs (PT-2501, Lonza, Walkersville, MD) from a single donor at passage 7, were cultured in growth media (alpha-Mem phenol-red free (GIBCO, Paisley, UK), 10% fetal bovine serum) for 2 days. Then, MSCs were cultured for 11 days by supplementing the growth medium with 100 nM dexamethasone and 10 mM β-glycerophosphate (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) to induce the osteogenic differentiation. MSCs were devitalized before the onset of mineralization by freeze-thaw cycles and DNAse treatment (10 U/ml; Sigma-Aldrich), followed by extensive washings with Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS, Gibco BRL, Carlsbad, CA) and sterile air drying, before freezing and subsequent use.In ...