The migration of CXCR4(+); BMSCs and the ox-LDL-induced injury in endothelial cells

Objective: To study whether the stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) secreted by endothelial cells affects the CXCR4(+); stem cell migration.

Methods: CXCR4(+); bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated from mouse bone marrow. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), and the cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay, the expressions of SDF-1α mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. The migration of CXCR4(+); BMSCs was analyzed by Transwell(R); chamber assay.

Results: The stimulation of ox-LDL affected the proliferation and increased significantly the expression levels of SDF-1α mRNA and protein in HUVECs, and the medium supernatant promoted the migratory response of CXCR4(+); BMSCs. When the neutralizing CXCR4 antibody eliminated the secreted SDF-1α, the migratory activity markedly decreased.

Conclusions: CXCR4(+); BMSCs might migrate to endothelial cells by SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis in the atherosclerosis process.