The role of mitochondria in osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

• Published in: Protein & cell Vol. 8; no. 6; pp. 439 - 445
• Main Authors: Li, Qianqian, Gao, Zewen, Chen, Ye, Guan, Min-Xin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Higher Education Press 01-06-2017; Springer Nature B.V; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adipogenesis - physiology; Animals; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Chondrogenesis - physiology; Developmental Biology; differentiation; Genes; Human Genetics; Humans; Life Sciences; Mesenchymal stem cells; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - metabolism; Mini-Review; Mitochondria; Mitochondria - genetics; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondrial Proteins - genetics; Mitochondrial Proteins - metabolism; mRNA表达水平; MSCs; Osteogenesis - physiology; Protein Science; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; RNA - genetics; RNA - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Stem Cells; 成骨; 氧化还原状态; 线粒体DNA; 脂肪细胞分化; 软骨细胞; 间充质干细胞; mesenchymal stem cells; mitochondria; differentiation
• ISSN: 1674-800X; 1674-8018
• DOI: 10.1007/s13238-017-0385-7

Mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） are progenitors of con- nective tissues, which have emerged as important tools for tissue engineering due to their differentiation potential along various cell types. In recent years, accumulating evidence has suggested that the regulation of mitochon- dria dynamics and function is essential for successful dif- ferentiation of MSCs. In this paper, we review and provide an integrated view on the role of mitochondria in MSC dif- ferentiation. The mitochondria are maintained at a relatively low activity level in MSCs, and upon induction, mtDNA copy number, protein levels of respiratory enzymes, the oxygen consumption rate, mRNA levels of mitochondrial biogene- sis-associated genes, and intracellular ATP content are increased. The regulated level of mitochondrial ROS is found not only to influence differentiation but also to con- tribute to the direction determination of differentiation. Understanding the roles of mitochondrial dynamics during MSC differentiation will facilitate the optimization of differ- entiation protocols by adjusting biochemical properties, such as energy production or the redox status of stem cells, and ultimately, benefit the development of new pharmacologic strategies in regenerative medicine.