Mesenchymal stem cells cause induction of granulocyte differentiation of rat bone marrow C-kit(+) hematopoietic stem cells through JAK3/STAT3, ERK, and PI3K signaling pathways

OBJECTIVE(S): Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are the cells that give rise to different types of blood cells during the hematopoiesis process. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) as key elements in the bone marrow (BM) niche interact with hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) by secreting cytokines, which control HPCs maintenance and fate. Here we report that BM-MSCs are capable of inducing granulocytic differentiation of the C-Kit+ HSCs via activating JAK3/STAT3, ERK, and PI3K signaling pathways. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this purpose, BM-MSCs and C-kit(+) HSCs were isolated. Next, cells were divided into two groups and differentiated into granulocytes: C-kit(+) HSCs alone (control group) and co-cultured C-kit(+) HSCs with MSCs (experimental group). Afterward, the gene and protein expression were assessed by real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: It was found that BM-MSCs resulted in increased JAK3/STAT3, ERK, and PI3K protein expression in granulocyte differentiated C-kit(+) HSCs. CONCLUSION: It should be concluded that MSCs could affect the granulocyte differentiation of C-kit(+) HSCs via increasing JAK3/STAT3, ERK, and PI3K signaling pathways.