ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of coculture with amniotic epithelial cells (AECs) on the biological characteristics of amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs), to compare the expression of CXC motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in cocultured AMSCs and to investigate the roles of the stromal cellderived factor1 (SDF1)/CXCR4 axis in the homing and migration of AMSCs. AMSCs were isolated from human amniotic membranes, purified and then differentiated into osteoblasts and adipocytes in vitro, which was verified by von Kossa Staining and Oil Red O staining. Cell viability was measured by Cell Counting kit8 and trypan blue assays at 24, 48 and 72 h, the expression of CXCR4 was analyzed by immunofluorescencebased flow cytometry and reverse transcriptionquantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the migration ability of AMSCs in vitro was observed by a migration assay. The results demonstrated that cell viability (at 48 and 72 h) and survival (at 24, 48 and 72 h) in the coculture and serum groups were higher compared with the serumfree group. Furthermore, CXCR4 mRNA and protein expression, and migration along the SDF1 gradient, in the coculture and serumfree groups were higher compared with the serum group. Overall, the results indicated that AMSCs cocultured with AECs exhibited enhanced proliferation activity and survival rate. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that coculture of AMSCs with AECs upregulated CXCR4 on the surface of AMSCs and enhanced the migration ability of AMSCs in vitro. This result may improve the directional migration and homing ability of AMSCs, as well as provide a theoretical basis for the application of AMSCs in clinical practice as a novel strategy to increase the success of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
