Hypoxia Enhances Chondrogenesis and Prevents Terminal Differentiation through PI3K/Akt/FoxO Dependent Anti-Apoptotic Effect

• DOI: 10.1038/srep02683
• Publication Date: 2013-09-17T09:04:29Z
• Authors: Hsieh-Hsing Lee; Chia-Chi Chang; Ming-Jium Shieh; Jung-Pan Wang; Yi-Te Chen; Tai-Horng Young; Shih-Chieh Hung
• Keywords: Chondrogenesis; Endochondral ossification; Hypoxia

Hypoxia, a common environmental condition, influences cell signals and functions. Here, we compared the effects of hypoxia (1% oxygen) normoxia (air) on chondrogenic differentiation human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). For in vitro differentiation, MSCs were concentrated to form pellets subjected conditions appropriate for under hypoxia, followed by analysis expression genes proteins chondrogenesis endochondral ossification. induced increased chondrogenesis, but decreased ossification those normoxia. more resistant apoptosis The hypoxia-dependent protection from chondrogenesis-induced correlated with an increase activation phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/FoxO pathway. These results suggest that PI3K/Akt/FoxO survival pathway activated enhances plays important role preventing