Induction of populations of quiescent, slow-cycling bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells using substrate-tethered peptides

摘要

Adult stem cells are maintained in a quiescent state but are able to exit quiescence and rapidly expand and differentiate in response to stress. The quiescent state appears to be necessary for preserving the self-renewal of stem cells and is a critical factor in the resistance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) to chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Thus, an improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms of quiescence in adult stem cells is critical for the development of molecularly targeted therapies against quiescent CSCs in different cancers. In the present study, the mild inhibitor EPL001 and alanine-substituted derivative peptides were chemically synthesised and the activity examined in vitro of the resulting populations of quiescent, slow-cycling bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).