Introduction:
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess endogenous reparative
properties and may serve as an exogenous therapeutic intervention in
patients with chronic kidney disease. Cardiovascular risk factors clustering
in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) might adversely affect cellular properties.
To test the hypothesis that Mets interferes with MSC characteristics, we
performed comprehensive comparison of the mRNA, microRNA, and protein
content of MSCs isolated from Lean and MetS pigs.
Methods:
Domestic pigs were fed a 16-week Lean or MetS diet (n=4 each).
Expression profiles of co-existing microRNAs, mRNAs, and proteins were
obtained by high-throughput sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass
spectrometry. TargetScan and ComiR were used to predict target genes of
differentially expressed microRNAs, and DAVID 6.7 for functional annotation
analysis to rank primary gene ontology categories for the microRNA target
genes, mRNAs, and proteins.
Results:
Differential expression analysis revealed 12 microRNAs upregulated in
MetS-MSCs compared to Lean-MSCs (fold change>1.4, p<0.05),
which target 7,728 genes, whereas 33 mRNAs and 78 proteins were
downregulated (fold change<0.7, p<0.05). Integrated analysis
showed that targets of those microRNAs upregulated in MetS-MSCs overlap with
at least half of mRNAs and proteins dysregulated in those cells. Functional
analysis of overlapping mRNAs and proteins suggest that they are primarily
involved in mitochondria, inflammation and transcription. MetS-MSCs also
exhibited increased nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa-B,
associated with increased SA-β-Galactosidase and decreased
cytochrome-c oxidase-IV activity.
Conclusion:
MetS alters the transcriptome and proteome of swine adipose
tissue-derived MSCs particularly genes involved in mitochondria,
inflammation and transcription regulation. These alterations might limit the
reparative function of endogenous MSC and their use as an exogenous
regenerative therapy.