Effect of static magnetic field on gene expression of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells by transcriptome analysis

Purpose

Static magnetic fields (SMFs) induce various biological reactions and have been applied in the biological therapy of diseases, especially in combination with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and tissue engineering. However, the underlying influence of SMFs on MSCs gene expression remains largely unclear. In this study, we aim to investigate the effects of SMFs on gene expression of human MSCs.

Materials and methods

We exposed human MSCs to two different intensities (0.35 ​T and 1.0 ​T) of SMFs and observed the effects of SMFs on cell morphology. Subsequently, RNA-sequencing was performed to explore the gene expression changes.

Results

Compared with control group cells, no significant differences in cell morphology were observed under a phase contrast inverted microscope, but the transcriptome of SMF-exposed MSCs were significantly changed in both 0.35 ​T and 1.0 ​T groups and the differential expressed genes are involved in multiple pathways, such as ubiquitin mediated proteolysis, TNF signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, TGF-beta signaling pathway, metabolic pathways, and apoptosis, which regulate the biological functions of MSCs.

Conclusions

SMFs stimulation could affect the gene expression of human MSCs and the biological effects vary by the different intensities of SMFs. These data offer the molecular foundation for future application of SMFs in stem cell technology as well as tissue engineering medicine.