Periosteum and bone marrow (BM) contain cells that, after isolation and culture-expansion, exhibit properties of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs). However, these cells have not been identified and characterised in situ due to the lack of specific markers. This study aimed to identify and phenotypically characterise long-term label-retaining cells (LT-LRCs), thought to include stem cells (SCs), in mouse periosteum and BM. Two mouse models were used: nucleoside-analogue labelling, and doxycycline (Dox)-inducible expression of histone 2B–green fluorescent fusion protein (H2B-GFP). LRCs were identified and phenotypically characterised by immunostaining, and microscopy or by flow cytometry (FCM). LRCs were detected throughout the periosteum with no apparent focal concentration, and subsets of cells displayed a phenotype compatible with MSCs but not pericytes. Osteoblasts were also labelled, but osteocalcin-expressing osteoblasts were distinct from Low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR)/P75-expressing MSCs. Similarly, BM contained LRCs expressing MSC markers that were distinct from pericytes. For FCM analyses, two cell isolation methods were compared, which revealed that crushing and collagenase digestion of long bones yielded a higher percentage of LRCs compared with flushing. BM analysed 40 days after the end of nucleoside administration showed that LRCs both within the CD45- and CD45low population were enriched for cells expressing Platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) together with Stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1) as well as cells expressing LNGFR/P75+. Furthermore, the CD45-PDGFRα+Sca-1+ population showed an increase in the percentage of LRCs with an increasing washout period, suggesting PDGFRα together with Sca-1 is most suitable to identify stromal LRCs in mouse BM. Comparison of the nucleoside label-retaining model with the H2B-GFP-label-retaining transgenic model showed a good correlation between nucleoside and H2B-GFP-label retention, suggesting the suitability of the H2B-GFP model for identification of stromal LRCs in BM. Future studies characterising the MSC niche in-vivo could reveal novel therapeutic targets for promoting bone regeneration/repair.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:704549 |
Date | January 2017 |
Creators | Cherry, Haseen Mahbub |
Publisher | University of Aberdeen |
Source Sets | Ethos UK |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Source | http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=231395 |
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