Effect of tescalcin overexpression on osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

Tescalcin plays an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of certain cell types. It is involved in the signaling pathways of mitogen-activated protein kinase and is reported to directly interact with subunit 4 of COP9 signalosome and Na/H exchanger NHE1. Since tescalcin is one of the factors that allow one type of progenitor cells differentiate into a variety of specialized cell types, it can be a potential molecular tool for modulation of phenotype of target cells. The ability of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) to differentiate into osteogenic direction makes them a promising adult stem cell type for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Here we show that ADSCs with tescalcin overexpression had a significantly higher level of matrix mineralization compared with control ADSCs. This finding indicates that ectopic tescalcin overexpression might affect osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs.