Abstract
The objective of our study was to develop novel techniques for investigations of cell motility, and to assess whether the electric field of the therapeutic spinal cord stimulation system used in vivo contributes to the migration of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in vitro.
We have investigated electrotaxis of bone marrow-derived MSCs using pulsed electric field (PEF) in range 16-80 mV/mm and frequency 130 Hz and 240 Hz. The PEF-related dynamics of the cell surface glycosylation was evaluated using six plant lectins.
PEF at physiological levels (10mV/mm; 130 Hz) did not influence cellular motility in vitro, what may correspond to the maintenance of the transplanted cells at the lesion site in vivo. Increase of the PEF intensity and frequency above physiological levels resulted in the increase in the cellular migration rate in vitro. PEF elevated above physiological intensity and frequency (40-80 mV/mm; 240 Hz), but not at physiological levels, resulted in changes of the cell surface glycosylation.
We find the described approach as convenient for investigations and for the in vitro modeling of the cellular systems intended for the regenerative cell transplantations in vivo. Probing cell surface glycomes may provide valuable biomarkers to assess competence of transplanted cells.
