Study of Hypoxia Induced Autophagy on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiation

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects and molecular mechanisms of hypoxia on hMSCs differentiation. METHODS hMSCs were cultured under normoxic or hypoxic conditions; hMSCs differentiation were obtained by treated with BDM(bone differentiation medium); Calcium deposit was assessed by Alizard Red S dye; The protein levels were analyzed by western blotting. RESULTS Hypoxia can significantly promoted calcium deposit in hMSCs; The expression of LC3 was increased in hMSCs, hypoxia induced calcium deposit was inhibited by autophagy inhibitor 3MA; Hypoxia induced hMSCs calcium deposit was accompanied by inactivation of MAPK and PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, inhibition of these pathway could mediate hMSCs calcium deposit by promoted autophagy. CONCLUSION Hypoxia can significantly triger hMSCs differentiation by induced autophagy, inhibition of MAPK and PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway could contribute to autophagy which could mediate hMSCs differentiation.