Lower Extent but Similar Rhythm of Osteogenic Behavior in hBMSCs Cultured on Nanofibrous Scaffolds versus Induced with Osteogenic Supplement Scientists explored the osteogenic behavior of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) on poly-L-lactide nanofibers with different orientations, and monitored the dynamic changes in global gene expression triggered by topographical cues. [ACS Nano] Abstract Orchestrating Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells – Identification of Placental Growth Factor as a Mechanosensitive Gene with a Pro-Osteogenic Role The functional role of placental growth factor in modulating MSC osteogenic differentiation was interrogated and researchers showed a concentration dependent response whereby low concentrations exhibited the strongest pro-osteogenic effect. [Stem Cells] Abstract Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-2a-Dependent Hypoxic Induction of Wnt10b Expression in Adipogenic Cells Hypoxia increased the expression of Wnt10b in both human and mouse adipogenic cells, but not in hypoxia-inducible factor-2a-deficient adipogenic cells. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article Analyses of Chondrogenic Induction of Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Combined Co-Stimulation Mediated by Adenoviral Gene Transfer Scientists analyzed the in vitro chondrogenesis of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells transduced with adenoviral vectors encoding the factors Insulin-like growth factor-1, Transforming growth factor-b beta1, Fibroblast growth factor 2, and Sex determining region Y-box 9 either alone or in combinations. [Arthritis Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article Development of an In Vitro Cell System from Zebrafish Suitable to Study Bone Cell Differentiation and Extracellular Matrix Mineralization ZFB1 cells can differentiate toward osteoblast or chondroblast lineages, as demonstrated by expression of osteoblast- and chondrocyte-specific markers, they exhibit an alkaline phosphatase activity, a marker of bone formation in vivo, and they can mineralize their extracellular matrix. [Zebrafish] Abstract Biomimetic Three-Dimensional Anisotropic Geometries by Uniaxial Stretching of Poly(e-Caprolactone) Films: Degradation and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Responses Human mesenchymal stem cells aligned better towards uniaxial-stretch-induced poly(e-caprolactone) ridge/groove arrays when the geometries were remained intact, and became sensitive with gradually declined nucleus alignment and elongation to the geometric degradation of ridges. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract Short-Term Administration of Small Molecule Phenamil Induced a Protracted Osteogenic Effect on Osteoblast-Like MC3T3-E1 Cells Scientists revealed that both short and continuous phenamil treatment triggers osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells on a biodegradable polymeric scaffold composed of polylactic-co-glycolic acid at the same time points. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract Inhibition of Apoptosis by Knockdown of Caspase-3 with siRNA in Rat Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Investigators determined whether small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting caspase-3 can inhibit the apoptosis of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. [Exp Biol Med] Abstract Bmp4 Expressed in Preadipocytes Is Required for the Onset of Adipocyte Differentiation Researchers characterized the role of endogenous bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) activity in preadipocytes. Higher levels of phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 were detected in adipogenic cells but not in non-adipogenic cells prior to differentiation induction. [Cytokine] Abstract Dual Delivery of rhPDGF-BB and Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Expressing the BMP2 Gene Enhance Bone Formation in a Critical-Sized Defect Model In in vitro experiments, the dual delivery of rh-platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rhPDGF-BB) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) significantly enhanced cell proliferation. However, the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) was significantly suppressed even though the amount of BMP-2 secreted by the adenoviral vector containing the BMP2 gene-transfected BMSCs was not significantly affected by the rhPDGF-BB treatment. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract |