Augmentation of Regenerative Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Granulocyte-colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) Induced Mobilization

Research Article

J Stem Cell Res Transplant. 2014;1(2): 1006.

Augmentation of Regenerative Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Granulocyte-colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) Induced Mobilization

Hirose Y1,2, Murakami M1, Hayashi Y1,3, Osako Y1, Yamamoto T2, Gotoh M2 and Nakashima M1*

1Department of Dental Regenerative Medicine, Center of Advanced Medicine for Dental and Oral Diseases, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Japan

2Department of Urology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan

3Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Aichi Gakuin University, Japan

*Corresponding author: Nakashima M, Department of Dental Regenerative Medicine, Center of Advanced Medicine for Dental and Oral Diseases, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi, 474-8511, Japan

Received: July 18, 2014; Accepted: August 16, 2014; Published: August 18, 2014

Abstract

The development of a safe and efficient method for isolation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) subsets is essential for optimal stem cell therapy. The potential utility of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) induced mobilization method has been demonstrated in isolation of MSC subsets from dental pulp. The mobilized dental pulp stem cells (MDPSCs) were enriched for MSC subsets with higher regenerative potential compared with colony-derived dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). This investigation aimed to examine the efficacy of the G-CSF-induced mobilization method for isolation of MSC subsets from other tissues such as bone-marrow and adipose tissue. The mobilized MSCs represented significantly higher rate of CXCR4+ and G-CSFR+ cells, higher proliferation and migratory activity and higher expression of Sox2 than corresponding colony-derived MSCs. Trophic effects of mobilized MSCs, including enhanced proliferation, migration, anti-apoptosis, angiogenesis and neurite extension, were also higher in mobilized MSCs compared to colony-derived MSCs, correlating with higher expression of trophic factors. Each of mobilized MSCs induced higher angiogenesis/vasculogenesis and pulp regeneration in ectopic tooth transplantation model. Thus, the G-CSF induced mobilization method for isolation of MSC subsets is efficient and appears to be a significant advance independent of tissue origin.

Keywords: Dental pulp stem cells; Bone marrow-derived stem cells; Adipose-derived stem cells; Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF); Mobilization; Trophic factor; Pulp regeneration

Introduction

MSCs present a promising tool for cell therapy, and are currently evaluated in clinical trials for myocardial infarction, stroke, meniscus repair, limb ischemia, graft-versus-host disease and autoimmune disorders [1]. MSCs have been found in many other tissues, including peripheral blood, dental pulp, adipose tissue, umbilical cord blood and corneal stoma [2]. Among these cell sources, bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) have been known for potential therapeutic use [2]. However, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are becoming an attractive alternative to BMSCs due to easy accessibility and availability in the body [3]. Recently, to obtain the MSCs in a closed system, new methods have been developed, including a MSC separation device for bone marrow [4] and Celution™ system for adipose tissue [5]. These devices have the advantage of direct application of the isolated MSCs without further expansion. Their stem cell properties, however, have been demonstrated to be similar to those of colony-derived MSCs [4,6]. Furthermore, a large amount of adipose tissue is necessary to isolate adipose MSCs by the Celution™ system [5]. Age-related decrease in the number of BMSCs is known [7], and functionally active ADSCs is reduced in obesity [8] and aged patients [9].

MSCs are heterogeneous subsets of stromal stem/progenitor cells [10]. Potential utility of some MSC subsets have been demonstrated for enhanced regeneration, including Lin-/c-kit+ MSCs in infarcted myocardium [11], STRO-1BRIGHTVCAM-1+ population in bone formation [12], CD31- side population (SP) cells in ischemic cerebrum and ischemic hindlimb [13] and CD105+ MSCs in pulpectomized tooth [14]. These MSC subsets, however, were isolated by flow cytometer, which has a risk of microbial contamination and unfavorable effects for clinical use [4]. CD34+ MSCs by use of CliniMACS® are only available for clinical application [15].

We have recently developed a novel, efficient and safe method, using G-CSF-induced mobilization to isolate a therapeutically active subset of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) from a small amount of pulp tissue in canine [16] and human [17]. The subset of DPSCs, named mobilized DPSCs (MDPSCs), were enriched for C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor (G-CSFR) positive cells, and demonstrated higher regenerative potential compared with non-isolated colony-derived DPSCs (DPSCs). There has been no study, however, on isolation of BMSC and ADSC subsets by G-CSF induced mobilization method. G-CSF stimulates in vitro migration of BMSCs, dependent on their G-CSFR expression [18]. G-CSF enhances migration of intravenously infused MSCs to infarcted heart in rat [19]. G-CSF application also shows significantly higher migration of c-kit+ BMSCs towards ischemic heart tissue in an in vitro model [20]. A subpopulation, CD31- SP cells were isolated from porcine dental pulp, bone marrow and adipose tissue of the same individual using the same isolation and culture method [13]. The aim of this investigation is to evaluate the efficacy of the G-CSF-induced mobilization method for isolation of MSC subsets from bone-marrow and adipose tissue and compared with dental pulp tissue. Therefore, we compared the stem cell properties, trophic effects, and regenerative potential of mobilized MSCs with corresponding colony-derived MSCs, respectively.

Materials and Methods

This study was approved by the ethics committees and the animal care and use committees of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology and Aichi Gakuin University. All experiments were conducted using the strict guidelines of the DNA Safety Programs.

Cell isolation and culture conditions

The pulp tissue from premolar teeth, the bone marrow and adipose tissue were isolated from the same individual porcine mandible. Then, primary cells was cultured from each tissue with slight modification of our previous method [21]. In brief, approximately 1 g of pulp tissue, 3 g of bone marrow, and 5 g of adipose tissue were minced into pieces and then enzymatically digested in 0.2% collagenase (Worthington, Lakewood, NJ) for 30 min at 37°C. The cells were passed through 70 μm nylon mesh (Cell Strainer; BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, NJ) and their viability was determined by trypan blue staining of the cells. The isolated cells were plated at colony-forming density (≤ 1×104 cells/ml) on 35 mm dishes (BD Biosciences) in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) (Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA). These colony-derived dental pulp, bone marrow and adipose MSCs were named DPSCs, BMSCs and ADSCs, respectively.

The mobilized subsets of DPSCs, BMSCs and ADSCs (MDPSCs, MBMSCs and MADSCs) were further isolated by G-CSF (NEUTROGIN®; Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ,Tokyo, Japan) induced stem cell mobilization [16,17]. Briefly, the upper chamber, Costar Transwell® (Corning, Lowell, MA) which was chemically pretreated to prevent cell attachment, was inserted into 24-well tissue culture plate (BD Biosciences) as the lower chamber. The colony-derived MSCs (DPSCs, BMSCs and ADSCs) (1.5×104 cells/100 μl in DMEM) at the second passage of culture were added to the upper chambers and DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS and G-CSF (100 ng/ml) was added to the lower chambers. After 48 h of incubation, the medium was changed into DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS without G-CSF. Isolated mobilized MSCs and colony-derived MSCs were detached at 60-70% confluence by incubation with 0.05% Trypsin-EDTA (Life Technologies) and subcultured at a 1:4 dilution under the same conditions. In this study, all cells were cultured in a humidified 37°C, 5% CO2 incubator (Panasonic, Osaka, Japan). To evaluate the colony-forming efficiency of each mobilized MSCs and colony-derived MSCs, 5×102 cells/ml were seeded at the 5 th passage of culture on 6 cm dish in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS. After 4 days of culture, aggregates of ≥10 cells were scored as colonies.

Flow cytometric analysis

The mobilized MSCs were characterized at the 6-7 th passage of culture, in comparison with colony-derived MSCs by flow cytometry (FACS Canto II; BD Biosciences). They were immunolabeled for 60 min at 4°C with a rabbit IgG negative control (Alexa488) (#4340) (Cell Signaling technology, Beverly, MA), a mouse IgG2a negative control (FITC) (RTK4530) (Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany), a mouse IgG2b negative control (Alexa488) (MCA928PE) (Abcam, Cambridge, UK), and the antibodies against CD105 (Alexa488) (orb10285) (Biobyt, Cambridge, UK), CXCR4 (FITC) (12G5) (R&D Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN), G-CSFR (Alexa488) (S1390) (Abcam). Only viable cells as determined by propidium iodide (PI) exclusion were gated and analyzed.

Real-time RT-PCR for stem cell makers, and angiogenic/neurotrophic factors

Total RNA was extracted with Trizol (Life Technologies) from each of the stem cell sources. First-strand cDNA syntheses were performed on the total RNA of these cells by reverse transcription using the ReverTra Ace-α (Toyobo, Tokyo, Japan) at 30°C for 10 min, 42°C for 20 min and 99°C for 5 min after DNase I treatment (Roche Diagnostics, Pleasanton, CA) at 37°C for 20 min and 0.2 M EDTA treatment (Toyobo) at 70°C for 20 min. Real-time RT-PCR was performed at 95°C for 10 s, 65°C for 15 s and 72°C for 8 s. Amplified cDNA were labeled with Light Cycler-Fast Start DNA master SYBR Green I (Roche Diagnostics) in a Light Cycler (Roche Diagnostics). As stem cell markers, Sox2 and chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) were examined. The mRNA expression of the angiogenic and neurotrophic factors, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) were also performed. The primers were used as demonstrated previously [14,22,23] except G-CSF (Forward: 5’ CTGGACTGGGAGGTAGTTG 3’; Reverse: 5’ CTTAGGGTAGGGGTTCACTC 3’). The mRNA expression was normalized with β-actin. The RT-PCR product of G-CSF was subcloned into the pGEM-T easy vector (Promega, Madison, WI) and confirmed by sequencing.

Migration and proliferation assays

The migratory activity of each of mobilized MSCs to G-CSF was compared with corresponding colony-derived MSCs by horizontal chemotaxis assay using TAXIScan-FL (ECI, Inc., Kanagawa, Japan) as described previously [14]. Each of MSCs (1×105 cells/ml) was placed into the single hole, and 10 μg/ml of chemotactic factor (1 μl) was placed into the contra-hole. The video images of cell migration were taken for 24 h.

The proliferation activity in response to FBS of each of mobilized MSCs was compared with corresponding colony-derived MSCs at the 6-7 th passage of culture at 1×103 cells per 96 well in the presence of 10% FBS. Cell Counting Kit-8 (Dojindo, Kumamoto, Japan) was added to the 96-well plate (BD Biosciences) and the cell numbers were measured at 2, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h of culture by Appliskan (Thermo Scientific, Walthan, MA) with the excitation filter set at 450 nm.

Endothelial cell differentiation and neuronal differentiation in vitro

The differentiation potential into endothelial cell [23] and neuron [22] was performed with slight modification of our previous method. In endothelial cell differentiation, each of MSCs at the 6-7 th passage of culture 1.0×104 cells/50 μl were seeded on a 96-well plate spread out the matrigel (BD Biosciences) in inducer medium. Network formation was observed after 9 h cultivation. The mean lengths of networks of cords and tube-like structures were measured by Suite V3 (Leica).

For neuronal differentiation, each of MSCs at the 6-7 passage of culture 1.0×105 cells/dish had cultured on non-coated 35 mm dish in Neurosphere Progenitor Basal Medium (NPBM) (Lonza) with NP Maintenance Medium SingleQuots™ Kit (Lonza) (contains hEGF and hFGF) and NP Supplement SingleQuots™ Kit (Lonza) (contains NSF-1 and GA) as the addition factor for 11 days, designated for neurosphere formation. The average diameter of neurospheres was measured under an inverted microscope (Leica) using Suite V3 (Leica). The neurospheres were triturated using polished glass pipettes, and the obtained single-cell suspension had cultured in Gelatin- Coated 35 mm Dish (Iwaki, Shizuoka, Japan) in inducer medium. The medium was changed every 3 days. Expression of neurofilament, neuromodulin and sodium channel, voltage-gated type I α (SCN1α) mRNA was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR as described above at 25 days after cultivation. The primers were used as demonstrated previously [22,23]. Immunocytochemical analysis was also performed. The cells were fixed for 15 min in 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS at room temperature, reacted with mouse monoclonal neurofilament antibody (2F11) (Dako, Carpinteria, CA) (1: 100) for 1 h at room temperature, and followed by biotinylated anti-mouse IgG secondary antibody (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA) for 30 min at room temperature. The cells were developed with the VECTASTAIN®Elite ABC reagent (Vector) and ImmPACT™ DAB Peroxidase Substrate (Vector).

Effect of the conditioned media

Each of MSCs at the 6-7 th passage of culture 60-70% confluence, the culture medium was switched to DMEM without serum, and the conditioned media (CM) were collected 24 h later and concentrated approximately 25-fold by an Amicon Ultra-15 Centrifugal Filter Unit with an Ultracel-3 membrane (Millipore, Billerica, MA). The protein concentration of the CM was determined by BradfordUltra™ (Expedeon, Cambridge, UK).

To assess the proliferative effect of the CM, NIH3T3 cells were seeded at 1×103 cells/well in a 96-well plate in DMEM supplemented with 5 μg/ml of the each CM without serum. Cell Counting Kit-8 was added to the 96-well plate, and the cell numbers were measured by Appliskan as described above. NIH3T3 cells (clone 5611) were purchased from Japanese Collection of Research Bioresources (JCRB) Cell Bank (Tokyo, Japan).

To examine the stimulatory effect of each CM on migratory activity of NIH3T3 cells, a horizontal chemotaxis assay was performed as described above.

The inductive potential of each CM into endothelial differentiation was assessed in the human umbilical vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) line (7F3415) (Lonza). After HUVEC reached 60-70% confluence on 35 mm dish, the culture medium was switched to DMEM containing 2% FBS, 5μg/ml the conditioned medium from each of MSCs, 22.5 μg/ml heparin, 1 μg/ml ascorbic acid and 0.2 μg/ml hydrocortisone and had cultued for 11 days. Immunohistochemical staining was performed with mouse anti-Cadherin 5 (VE-Cadherin or CD144) (75) (BD biosciences) (1: 200) for 1h at room temperature and Alexa Fluor 488 goat anti-mouse IgG (H+L) secondary antibody (Life Technologies) (1: 200) for 1h at room temperature. The mean lengths of networks of cords and tube-like structures were measured by BZ-9000 analysis software (KEYENCE, Osaka, Japan) after counterstaining with 5 μg/ml Hoechst 33342 (Sigma-Aldrich).

The enhanced effect of each CM on neurite outgrowth was assessed in the human neuroblastoma cell line (TGW cells) (clone 0618) (JCRB Cell Bank). TGW cells were plated at 5.0×104 cells/ml on 35 mm dishes and were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS for 24 h. Then, they were cultured supplemented with the each CM without serum for 12 h. For quantification of neurite outgrowth, the mean neurite length was measured by Suite V3 (Leica). At least, the neurite length of 100 cells was counted per sample.

To assess the immunomodulatory effect of the each CM, a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) assay was performed as described previously [14]. Autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and allogenic stimulator PBMCs from human were co-cultured at 1×105 cells per well in a 96-well plate in RPMI-1640 without arginine, leucine, lysine and phenol red (Sigma-Aldrich) supplemented with 5 μg/ml of the each CM. The cell numbers were measured using Cell Counting Kit-8 at 2, 12, 24 and 36 h as described above.

To assess the anti-apoptotic effect of the each CM, NIH3T3 cells were incubated with 500 nM staurosporine (Sigma-Aldrich) in DMEM supplemented with 5 μg/ml of the each CM for 3 h. The cells were harvested, treated with Annexin V-FLUOS Staining Kit (Roche Diagnostics) and analyzed by flow cytometry.

An experimental model of ectopic tooth transplantation model

An ectopic tooth transplantation model was used to evaluate regenerative potential. The porcine incisors were extracted, and their roots were cut out (6 mm in length, 1 mm in width). One end was sealed with zinc phosphate cement (GC, Tokyo, Japan). Each of MSCs (2×105 cells/100 μl at the 6-7 th passage of culture) was injected into the roots with collagen TE (Nitta Gelatin). Each of 4 roots with implanted MSCs was transplanted subcutaneously into 5-week-old severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice (CB17; CLEA, Tokyo, Japan). Each root was harvested for histological and molecular biological analyses on day 21.

For histological analysis, all roots were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde (Sigma-Aldrich) at 4°C overnight and embedded in paraffin wax (Sigma-Aldrich) after demineralization with Kalkitox™ (Wako, Osaka, Japan) at 4°C for a week. The paraffin sections (5 μm in thickness) were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). Three sections at 150 μm intervals from a total 12 roots of each MSC transplantation were examined for relative amounts of regenerative tissue, as described previously [13]. To evaluate the cell densities, nuclear staining with 5 μg/ml Hoechst 33342 (Sigma- Aldrich) was performed.

For neovascularization analysis, immunostaining with rat monoclonal RECA1 antibody (HIS-52) (Monosan, San Diego, CA) (1: 200) for 1 h at room temperature and TEXIS RED® anti-rabbit IgG (H+L) secondary antibody (Vector Laboratories) (1: 200) for 1 h at room temperature were performed as described previously [13].

For molecular biological analysis, regenerated tissues were further isolated from each regenerated tissue at 21 days after transplantation. Total RNA was isolated and real-time RT-PCR amplifications were performed using markers for pulp tissue, thyrotropin-releasing hormone degrading enzyme (TRH-DE) [24] and Syndecan3, a marker for periodontal ligament, periostin and periodontal ligament associated protein (PLAP) as demonstrated previously [25]. The expression of these markers in the regenerated tissues was compared with that in normal pulp and periodontal ligament tissue from SCID mouse incisors.

To confirm that the regenerated tissue is functional pulp tissue, western blot analysis of the expression of TRH-DE was performed in each regenerated tissue at 21 days after transplantation as described previously [17]. Normal pulp tissue from the SCID mice incisors were used as a positive control. The anti-TRH-DE antibody (N-18) (1:1000) (sc-83177) (Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc, CA) and anti-ß- actin antibody (RB-9421) (Neo-Markers, Fremont, CA) were used. The protein bands were detected by ImmunoStar®Zeta (Wako).

Statistical analyses

Data are expressed as means ± SD. P values were calculated using Student’s t test and Tukey’s multiple comparison test method in SPSS 21.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY).

Results

Isolation and characterization of mobilized MSCs

The morphology of the mobilized MSCs from all three tissue sources were stellate or spindle-shaped cells (Figure 1A). The mobilization efficiencies of mobilized MSCs, MDPSCs, MBMSCs and MADSCs were 17.5% ± 8.4, 8.4% ± 6.3 and 22.5% ± 6.3, respectively. MADSCs showed significantly higher mobilization efficiency compared with MBMSCs. The limiting dilution analysis of the 5 th passage culture showed that the frequencies of colony forming units (CFUs) in MDPSCs, MBMSCs and MADSCs were estimated to be 82.3% ± 2.8, 78.4% ± 1.5 and 75.8% ± 4.8, while those in DPSCs, BMSCs and ADSCs were 75.0% ± 3.8 , 72.0% ± 3.7 and 67.1% ± 1.6, respectively. The colony-forming units of MBMSCs and MADSCs were significantly higher than those of BMSCs and ADSCs, respectively.