Back close

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Fate Following Non-viral Gene Transfection Strongly Depends on the Choice of Delivery Vector

Publication Type : Journal Article

Thematic Areas : Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine

Publisher : Acta Biomaterialia, Acta Materialia Inc

Source : Acta Biomaterialia, Acta Materialia Inc, Volume 55, p.226-238 (2017)

Url : https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85017454945&doi=10.1016%2fj.actbio.2017.03.044&partnerID=40&md5=1ced5ae359f9733149c53f857196ca57

Keywords : animal cell, animal tissue, article, bone development, bone morphogenetic protein 2, cell adhesion, cell differentiation, cell fate, cell viability, chondrogenesis, controlled study, cytoskeleton, expression vector, genetic transfection, hyaline cartilage, mesenchymal stem cell, nanoparticle, nonhuman, nonviral gene delivery system, peptide derivative, polyethyleneimine, priority journal, reporter gene, stress fiber, transforming growth factor beta3

Campus : Kochi

School : Center for Nanosciences

Center : Amrita Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine Move, Nanosciences

Department : Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine

Year : 2017

Abstract : Controlling the phenotype of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through the delivery of regulatory genes is a promising strategy in tissue engineering (TE). Essential to effective gene delivery is the choice of gene carrier. Non-viral delivery vectors have been extensively used in TE, however their intrinsic effects on MSC differentiation remain poorly understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of three different classes of non-viral gene delivery vectors: (1) cationic polymers (polyethylenimine, PEI), (2) inorganic nanoparticles (nanohydroxyapatite, nHA) and (3) amphipathic peptides (RALA peptide) on modulating stem cell fate after reporter and therapeutic gene delivery. Despite facilitating similar reporter gene transfection efficiencies, these nanoparticle-based vectors had dramatically different effects on MSC viability, cytoskeletal morphology and differentiation. After reporter gene delivery (pGFP or pLUC), the nHA and RALA vectors supported an elongated MSC morphology, actin stress fibre formation and the development of mature focal adhesions, while cells appeared rounded and less tense following PEI transfection. These changes in MSC morphology correlated with enhanced osteogenesis following nHA and RALA transfection and adipogenesis following PEI transfection. When therapeutic genes encoding for transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGF-β3) and/or bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2) were delivered to MSCs, nHA promoted osteogenesis in 2D culture and the development of an endochondral phenotype in 3D culture, while RALA was less osteogenic and appeared to promote a more stable hyaline cartilage-like phenotype. In contrast, PEI failed to induce robust osteogenesis or chondrogenesis of MSCs, despite effective therapeutic protein production. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the differentiation of MSCs through the application of non-viral gene delivery strategies depends not only on the gene delivered, but also on the gene carrier itself. Statement of Significance Nanoparticle-based non-viral gene delivery vectors have been extensively used in regenerative medicine, however their intrinsic effects on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation remain poorly understood. This paper demonstrates that different classes of commonly used non-viral vectors are not inert and they have a strong effect on cell morphology, stress fiber formation and gene transcription in MSCs, which in turn modulates their capacity to differentiate towards osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic lineages. These results also point to the need for careful and tissue-specific selection of nanoparticle-based delivery vectors to prevent undesired phenotypic changes and off-target effects when delivering therapeutic genes to damaged or diseased tissues. © 2017 Acta Materialia Inc.

Cite this Research Publication : T. Gonzalez-Fernandez, Sathy, B. N., Hobbs, C., Cunniffe, G. M., McCarthy, H. O., Dunne, N. J., Nicolosi, V., O'Brien, F. J., and Kelly, D. J., “Mesenchymal stem cell fate following non-viral gene transfection strongly depends on the choice of delivery vector.”, Acta Biomater, vol. 55, pp. 226-238, 2017.

Admissions Apply Now