Interleukin-1β-induced matrix metalloproteinase-3 via ERK1/2 pathway to promote mesenchymal stem cell migration.

Human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs), a source of cell therapy, have received a great deal of attention due to their homing or migrating ability in response to signals emanating from damaged sites. It has been found that IL-1β possesses the ability to induce the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in bone marrow MSCs. MMP-3 is involved in cell migration in various types of cells, including glioblastoma, vascular smooth muscle, and adult neural progenitor cells.

Stiffness-controlled three-dimensional collagen scaffolds for differentiation of human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells into cardiac progenitor cells.

Stem cell-based regenerative therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for myocardial infarction. The aim of this study is to develop stiffness-controlled collagen scaffolds to allow proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) into cardiac progenitor cells. In this study transforming growth factor β2 (TGF-β2), was used to induce stem cell differentiation into cardiac lineage cells.