P2X and P2Y Receptors in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation

• Published in: Tissue engineering. Part A 2009-03, Vol.15 (3), p.698-698
• Main Authors: Scholze, N J, Zippel, N, Mueller, CA, Pansky, A, Tobiasch, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1937-3341; 1937-335X

Human adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from adipose tissue possess multiple lineage capacity. Although they have been shown to differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts, receptor expressiossion and/or their alteration during these processes is only partly understood. Purinergic 2 (P2) receptors are plasma membrane bound molecules, divided into the ligand-gated ion channels P2X and G-protein coupled P2Y receptors. They are activated by ligand-binding of extracellular nucleotides which triggers intracellular signals affecting various processes including proliferation and differentiation. Here we show that some P2X and P2Y receptors are involved in the differentiation of MSCs towards the osteogenic or the adipogenic lineage. Over a period of four weeks of differentiation several P2 receptors were found to be up-or down-regulated. Further investigations of P2 receptor signalling and their downstream targets are necessary to provide additional insights into the differentiation processes revealing novel options to control stem cell fate.