Hypoxia disturbs the Migration and Adhesion factors profile of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been successfully used in treating many diseases which are being verified through many preclinical and clinical trials. Despite the exciting therapeutic potential of MSCs, multiple challenges are encountered those hinder researchers from achieving successful clinical translations. Many studies have shown that moderate hypoxia (1-7% O2) is considered an important regulator of MSCs homing, migration, and differentiation. Additionally, low oxygen tension levels have been implicated in the maintenance of MSCs quiescence and plasticity in general. On the other hand, severe hypoxia (<1% O2) negatively affects the in vitro therapeutic potential of MSCs and causes their poor survival. Using the ELISA assay we assessed some major adhesion markers secreted by MSCs that play a role in cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion under normoxia (21% O2) and severe hypoxia (0.5% O2). These markers include SDF1-alpha, CXCR4, FAK, VEGF and ICAM-1. The results showed a significant drop in the adhesion markers in MSCs under severe hypoxia compared to normoxia, which causes a disruption in the cell-cell adhesion abilities of MSCs and ultimately can affect the incorporation of MSCs at the host site. These findings can open a new avenue to improve the attachment of MSCs at the transplantation site by targeting the adhesion and chemokines markers.