Downregulation of MMP2 and Bcl-2 in Adipose Derived Stem Cells (ASCs) following Transfection with IP-10 Gene

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are recently introduced as novel immunological gene carriers for treatment of cancer. It is believed that balance between the expression of angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors, such as SDF-1 and IP-10, may regulate neovascularization within the tumor. METHODS: In this study, we compared the expression of important tumor promoting mediators in IP-10-transfected Adipose Derived Stem Cells (ASCs) to those transfected with SDF-1. ASCs were isolated from adipose tissue of a normal subject undergoing cosmetic mamoplasty surgery using collagenase. ASCs were transfected with IP-10 or SDF-1 propagated plasmids by electroporation method and Lipofectamin 2000. Expressions of SDF-1, CXCR4, IP-10, Bcl-2, MMP2, IL-10, IGF-1, and VEGF were detected in transfected ASCs using quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: Results showed that the expressions of SDF-1, CXCR4, Bcl-2, MMP2, IL-10, IGF-1, and VEGF were upregulated in SDF-1-transfected ASCs. In contrast, Bcl-2 and MMP2 transcripts showed 45×10(3) and 10 fold lower expression in ASCs transfected with IP-10 compared to non-transfected cells. CONCLUSION: Anti-angiogenic chemokines such as IP-10 may modulate tumor promoting properties of ASCs and would be introduced as novel candidates for tumor immunotherapy; however, further studies are needed to be conducted.