Inhibition of IKK/NF-κB Signaling Enhances Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Stem Cell Reports. 2016 Apr 12;6(4):456-465. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2016.02.006. Epub 2016 Mar 10.

Abstract

Embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs; also known as mesenchymal stem cells) represent a promising source for bone regenerative medicine. Despite remarkable advances in stem cell biology, the molecular mechanism regulating differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into MSCs remains poorly understood. Here, we report that inhibition of IκB kinase (IKK)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling enhances differentiation of hESCs into MSCs by expediting the loss of pluripotent markers and increasing the expression of MSC surface markers. In addition, a significantly higher quantity of MSCs was produced from hESCs with IKK/NF-κB suppression. These isolated MSCs displayed evident multipotency with capacity to terminally differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes in vitro and to form bone in vivo. Collectively, our data provide important insights into the role of NF-κB in mesenchymal lineage specification during hESC differentiation, suggesting that IKK inhibitors could be utilized as an adjuvant in generating MSCs for cell-mediated therapies.

Keywords: IKK; MSCs; NF-κB; embryonic stem cells; mesoderm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / cytology
  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chondrocytes / cytology
  • Chondrocytes / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Human Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Human Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • I-kappa B Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • I-kappa B Kinase / genetics*
  • I-kappa B Kinase / metabolism
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B / genetics*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Osteoblasts / cytology
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • RNA Interference
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • I-kappa B Kinase