Investigation of adrenergic receptors in mesenchymal stem cells obtained from different sources in vitro and influence of receptor block on differentiation

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with different origin are used for immune-modulatory and regenerative purposes today. These cells were frequently investigated with regard to adhesion molecules, hematopoietic markers and immunologic markers. Limited number of studies are available showing the presence of adrenergic receptors in MSCs. Sufficient data are not available about receptor expressions during production process and differentiation of these cells. Beside, receptor expressions are not known in MSCs obtained from different sources. In this study, mRNA expressions in α1A, α1B, α2A, α2B, β1, β2, β3 subgroups of adrenergic receptors were shown with RT-qPCR in 1th, 2th, 3th passages where they are frequently used for regenerative and immune-modulatory purposes in MSCs obtained from human placental fetal membrane (FM) and bone marrow (BM). Receptor mRNA expressions were also shown with the same method in osteogenic, adipogenic differentiation of these cells and in differentiation under the effect of blocker. Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP-6) mRNA expressions were investigated using RT-qPCR with the aim of detecting the influence of blockers on osteogenic differentiation, Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARγ) mRNA expressions were investigated using RT-qPCR with the aim of detecting the influence of blockers on adipogenic differentiation. In our study, maximum expression rate compared to control group, 1th passage was detected in MSCs of BM-derived α1A-AR, in adipogenic differentiation group under phenoxybenzamine effect (fold change: 4221±1391; p<0,05). High expression was detected for no adrenergic receptor in FM groups, as in some of BM groups. Maximum expression increase in MSCs of FM-derived was seen in β1-AR in adipogenic differentiation group under propranolol effect (fold change: 2,97±0,94; p<0,05). BMP-6 mRNA expressions showed a significant increase in FM and BM groups in osteogenic differentiated cells compared to undifferentiated cells. However a significant decrease was detected in BMP-6 mRNA expressions in osteogenic differentiated cells of BM-derived under propranolol and phenoxybenzamine effect compared to normal osteogenic differentiated group. A significant increase was detected in PPARγ mRNA expressions in normal adipogenic differentiation groups and adipogenic differentiation groups under blocker effect for MSCs from both sources. This study indicates that MSCs obtained from different sources act dissimilar with regard to adrenergic receptor expressions and differentiation. Therefore it is important to investigate these cells from different sources and from different passages with regard to receptors and differentiation in in-vivo studies in order to use these cells more effectively for clinical purposes.