Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (Jan 2021)

Menaquinone-7 Supplementation Improves Osteogenesis in Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

  • Asim Cengiz Akbulut,
  • Grzegorz B. Wasilewski,
  • Grzegorz B. Wasilewski,
  • Nikolas Rapp,
  • Francesco Forin,
  • Heike Singer,
  • Katrin J. Czogalla-Nitsche,
  • Leon J. Schurgers,
  • Leon J. Schurgers

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2020.618760
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Development of clinical stem cell interventions are hampered by immature cell progeny under current protocols. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are characterized by their ability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple lineages. Generating hMSCs from pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is an attractive avenue for cost-efficient and scalable production of cellular material. In this study we generate mature osteoblasts from iPSCs using a stable expandable MSC intermediate, refining established protocols. We investigated the timeframe and phenotype of cells under osteogenic conditions as well as the effect of menaquinone-7 (MK-7) on differentiation. From day 2 we noted a significant increase in RUNX2 expression under osteogenic conditions with MK-7, as well as decreases in ROS species production, increased cellular migration and changes to dynamics of collagen deposition when compared to differentiated cells that were not treated with MK-7. At day 21 OsteoMK-7 increased alkaline phosphatase activity and collagen deposition, as well as downregulated RUNX2 expression, suggesting to a mature cellular phenotype. Throughout we note no changes to expression of osteocalcin suggesting a non-canonical function of MK-7 in osteoblast differentiation. Together our data provide further mechanistic insight between basic and clinical studies on extrahepatic activity of MK-7. Our findings show that MK-7 promotes osteoblast maturation thereby increasing osteogenic differentiation.

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