Methods: Normal HDPFs were cultured on uncoated and basement membrane coated plates. MTT was performed for cell proliferation analysis at 0, 24 and 48 hours, and RT-PCR was performed to assay the expressions of stem cell or differentiation marker genes.
Results: The study demonstrated no significant difference between the number of cells from basement membrane coated and uncoated plates. Reduction of the expression of stem cell markers; Oct4, Nanog and Rex1 were clearly observed in cultured cells on the basement membrane compared to those on the uncoated ones, whereas the expressions of bFGF and cbfa1 were clearly induced. However, decreases of some differentiation markers were observed; Nestin, ALP, BSP, type II collagen, PPAR gamma and LPL. No change was found on the expressions of DSPP, FGFR1 and FGFR3.
Conclusions: Basement membrane might not maintain the stemness of HDPFs, but seems to cause cell differentiation.