Gap junctional coupling with cardiomyocytes is necessary but not sufficient for cardiomyogenic differentiation of cocultured human mesenchymal stem cells

Gap junctional coupling is important for functional integration of transplanted cells with host myocardium. However, the role of gap junctions in cardiomyogenic differentiation of transplanted cells has not been directly investigated. The objective of this work is to study the role of connexin43 (Cx43) in cardiomyogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Knockdown of Cx43 gene expression (Cx43↓) was established in naturally Cx43-rich fetal amniotic membrane (AM) hMSCs, while Cx43 was overexpressed (Cx43↑) in inherently Cx43-poor adult adipose tissue (AT) hMSCs. The hMSCs were exposed to cardiomyogenic stimuli by coincubation with neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (nrCMCs) for 10 days. Differentiation was assessed by immunostaining and whole-cell current clamping. To establish whether the effects of Cx43 knockdown could be rescued, Cx45 was overexpressed in Cx43↓ fetal AM hMSCs. Ten days after coincubation, not a single Cx43↓ fetal AM hMSC, control adult AT MSC, or Cx43↑ adult AT mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) expressed α-actinin, while control fetal AM hMSCs did (2.2% ± 0.4%, n = 5,000). Moreover, functional cardiomyogenic differentiation, based on action potential recordings, occurred only in control fetal AM hMSCs. Of interest, Cx45 overexpression in Cx43↓ fetal AM hMSCs restored their ability to undergo cardiomyogenesis (1.6% ± 0.4%, n = 2,500) in coculture with nrCMCs. Gap junctional coupling is required for differentiation of fetal AM hMSCs into functional CMCs after coincubation with nrCMCs. Heterocellular gap junctional coupling thus plays an important role in the transfer of cardiomyogenic signals from nrCMCs to fetal hMSCs but is not sufficient to induce cardiomyogenic differentiation in adult AT hMSCs.     

Pretreatment of human mesenchymal stem cells with pioglitazone improved efficiency of cardiomyogenic transdifferentiation and cardiac function

The efficacy of transplantation of default human marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was modest. In this study, our challenge was to improve the efficacy of MSC transplantation in vivo by pretreatment of MSCs with pioglitazone. MSCs were cultured with or without medium containing 1 μM of pioglitazone before cardiomyogenic induction. After cardiomyogenic induction in vitro, cardiomyogenic transdifferentiation efficiency (CTE) was calculated by immunocytochemistry using anti-cardiac troponin-I antibody. For the in vivo experiments, myocardial infarction (MI) at the anterior left ventricle was made in nude rats. Two weeks after MI, MSCs pretreated with pioglitazone (p-BM; n = 30) or without pioglitazone (BM; n = 17) were injected, and then survived for 2 weeks. We compared left ventricular function by echocardiogram and immunohistochemistry to observe cardiomyogenic transdifferentiation in vivo. Pretreatment with pioglitazone significantly increased the CTE in vitro (1.9% ± 0.2% n = 47 vs. 39.5% ± 4.7% n = 13, p < .05). Transplantation of pioglitazone pretreated MSCs significantly improved change in left ventricular % fractional shortening (BM; -4.8% ± 2.1%, vs. p-BM; 5.2% ± 1.5%). Immunohistochemistry revealed significant improvement of cardiomyogenic transdifferentiation in p-BM in vivo (BM; 0% ± 0% n = 5, vs. p-BM; 0.077% ± 0.041% n = 5). Transplantation of pioglitazone-pretreated MSCs significantly improved cardiac function and can be a promising cardiac stem cell source to expect cardiomyogenesis.     

Treatment of human mesenchymal stem cells with angiotensin receptor blocker improved efficiency of cardiomyogenic transdifferentiation and improved cardiac function via angiogenesis

To improve the modest efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation, the treatment of human MSCs with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) was investigated. MSCs were cultured with or without the medium containing 3 μmol/l of ARBs before cardiomyogenic induction. After cardiomyogenic induction in vitro, cardiomyogenic transdifferentiation efficiency (CTE) was calculated by immunocytochemistry using anticardiac troponin-I antibody. In the nude rat chronic myocardial infarction model, we injected MSCs pretreated with candesartan (A-BM; n = 18) or injected MSCs without pretreatment of candesartan (BM; n = 25), each having survived for 2 weeks. The left ventricular function, as measured by echocardiogram, was compared with cardiomyogenic transdifferentiation in vivo, as determined by immunohistochemistry. Pretreatment with ARBs significantly increased the CTE in vitro (10.1 ± 0.8 n = 12 vs. 4.6 ± 0.3% n = 25, p < .05). Transplantation of candesartan-pretreated MSCs significantly improved the change in left ventricular ejection fraction (BM; -7.2 ± 2.0 vs. A-BM; 3.3 ± 2.3%). Immunohistochemistry revealed significant improvement of cardiomyogenic transdifferentiation in A-BM in vivo (BM; 0 ± 0 vs. A-BM; 0.014 ± 0.006%). Transplantation of ARB-pretreated MSCs significantly improved cardiac function and can be a promising cardiac stem cell source from which to expect cardiomyogenesis.     

The mechanical coupling of adult marrow stromal stem cells during cardiac regeneration assessed in a 2-D co-culture model

Postnatal cardiomyocytes undergo terminal differentiation and a restricted number of human cardiomyocytes retain the ability to divide and regenerate in response to ischemic injury. However, whether these neo-cardiomyocytes are derived from endogenous population of resident cardiac stem cells or from the exogenous double assurance population of resident bone marrow-derived stem cells that populate the damaged myocardium is unresolved and under intense investigation. The vital challenge is to ameliorate and/or regenerate the damaged myocardium. This can be achieved by stimulating proliferation of native quiescent cardiomyocytes and/or cardiac stem cell, or by recruiting exogenous autologous or allogeneic cells such as fetal or embryonic cardiomyocyte progenitors or bone marrow-derived stromal stem cells. The prerequisites are that these neo-cardiomyocytes must have the ability to integrate well within the native myocardium and must exhibit functional synchronization. Adult bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have been shown to differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells both in vitro and in vivo. As a result, BMSCs may potentially play an essential role in cardiac repair and regeneration, but this concept requires further validation. In this report, we have provided compelling evidence that functioning cardiac tissue can be generated by the interaction of multipotent BMSCs with embryonic cardiac myocytes (ECMs) in two-dimensional (2-D) co-cultures. The differentiating BMSCs were induced to undergo cardiomyogenic differentiation pathway and were able to express unequivocal electromechanical coupling and functional synchronization with ECMs. Our 2-D co-culture system provides a useful in vitro model to elucidate various molecular mechanisms underpinning the integration and orderly maturation and differentiation of BMSCs into neo-cardiomyocytes during myocardial repair and regeneration.     

骨髓间质干细胞在扩张型心肌病微环境中的分化研究

目的：探讨骨髓间质干细胞（MSCs）自体移植后在扩张型心肌病（DCM）微环境中分化为心肌细胞和血管内皮细胞的可行性。 方法： 用健康日本大耳白兔分离培养MSCs，盐酸阿霉素耳缘静脉注射复制兔DCM模型，将5溴脱氧尿嘧啶(BrdU)标记的MSCs移植到扩张型心肌病心肌内,4周后观察移植细胞的增殖分化情况。 结果： 细胞移植4周后，可以在实验组心肌内找到BrdU标记的阳性细胞，且一部分表现为心肌特异性肌钙蛋白T（troponin T）染色阳性，一部分Ⅷ因子相关抗原染色阳性并参与形成新生血管，对照组中没有发现。 结论： MSCs自体移植到扩张型心肌病后可以分化为心肌细胞和血管内皮细胞。     

自体骨髓基质干细胞移植治疗兔缺血心肌的实验研究

目的：用一种接近临床的骨髓移植模型，观察骨髓基质干细胞（MSCs）移植到缺血心肌后是否在心肌的微环境中可以向心肌细胞分化，提高心功能。 方法： 采用自体MSCs移植的方法，MSCs在体外培养扩增。在通过结扎冠状动脉造成心肌缺血1周后，MSCs被5溴-2脱氧尿苷（BrdU)标记后移植到自体的缺血心肌中。 结果： 移植4周后，MSCs向心肌细胞分化，表达出α-横纹肌肌动蛋白（sarcomeric actin），缺血区血管密度明显增加，左室收缩功能明显强于对照组。 结论： MSCs移植可以提高缺血心肌的心功能可能和MSCs向心肌细胞分化有关。     

Towards whole-body imaging at the single cell level using ultra-sensitive stem cell labeling with oligo-arginine modified upconversion nanoparticles

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown great potential in regenerative medicine. Sensitive and reliable methods for stem cell labeling and in vivo tracking are thus of great importance. Herein, we report the use of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as an exogenous contrast agent to track mouse MSCs (mMSCs) in vivo. To improve the labeling efficiency, oligo-arginine is conjugated to polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated UCNPs to enhance the nanoparticles uptake by mMSCs. Systematic in vitro tests reveal that the proliferation and differentiation of mMSCs are not notably affected by UCNP-labeling, suggesting that the labeled cells are able to maintain their stem cell potency. No apparent exocytosis is found in our in vitro labeling experiment by using a transwell culture system over a course of 10 days, indicating the potential capability of using our UCNP-labeling method for long-term stem cell tracking. To demonstrate the tracking sensitivity of our stem cell labeling approach, UCNP-labeled mMSCs are subcutaneously transplanted into mice and imaged using an in vivo upconversion luminescence (UCL) imaging system. As few as ~10 cells labeled with UCNPs are detected in vivo, evidencing a remarkable improvement in detection sensitivity of our UCNP-labeled hMSCs compared with other stem cell labeling techniques using conventional exogenous agents. We further track UCNP-labeled mMSCs after intravenous injection, and observe the translocation of mMSCs from lung where they initially accumulate, to liver, a phenomenon consistent to previous reports. Our results highlight the promise of using UCNPs as a new type of ultra-sensitive probes for labeling and in vivo tracking of stem cells at nearly the single cell level.     

干细胞因子与粒细胞集落刺激因子预处理对大鼠骨髓间质干细胞增殖分化的影响

目的：探讨干细胞因子（SCF）和粒细胞集落刺激因子（G-CSF）促进骨髓间质干细胞（MSCs）增殖及促进其向心肌细胞分化的作用。方法：将SD大鼠随机分成对照组、SCF组、G-CSF组和SCF＋G-CSF联合处理组。流式细胞仪检测第4代MSCs细胞周期。用DAPI（25 mg/L）标记的P4MSCs与心肌细胞共培养。在共培养的第1 d至第5 d用免疫荧光技术分别检测心肌特异性肌节肌球蛋白重链（MHC）、肌钙蛋白T（TnT）的表达，统计向心肌样细胞分化的MSCs百分率。结果：（1）SCF和G-CSF联合应用能明显诱导MSCs进入S期，单因子SCF组和G-CSF组与对照组相比，也明显促进MSCs由G₀/G₁期进入S期（P<0.01）。（2）MSCs与心肌细胞共培养后，SCF和G-CSF联合组MSCs表达心肌特异性蛋白MHC及TnT的阳性百分率均显著高于对照组（P<0.01），单细胞因子组MSCs的心肌特异性蛋白MHC及TnT的阳性表达亦高于对照组（P<0.01）。结论： SCF和G-CSF对MSCs具有促增殖、促分化的作用。     

The significant cardiomyogenic potential of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro

We tested the cardiomyogenic potential of the human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCBMSCs). Both the number and function of stem cells may be depressed in senile patients with severe coronary risk factors. Therefore, stem cells obtained from such patients may not function well. For this reason, UCBMSCs are potentially a new cell source for stem cell-based therapy, since such cells can be obtained from younger populations and are being routinely utilized for clinical patients. The human UCBMSCs (5 x 10(3) per cm(2)) were cocultured with fetal murine cardiomyocytes ([CM] 1 x 10(5) per cm(2)). On day 5 of cocultivation, approximately half of the green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled UCBMSCs contracted rhythmically and synchronously, suggesting the presence of electrical communication between the UCBMSCs. The fractional shortening of the contracted UCBMSCs was 6.5% +/- 0.7% (n = 20). The UCBMSC-derived cardiomyocytes stained positive for cardiac troponin-I (clear striation +) and connexin 43 (diffuse dot-like staining at the margin of the cell) by the immunocytochemical method. Cardiac troponin-I positive cardiomyocytes accounted for 45% +/- 3% of GFP-labeled UCBMSCs. The cardiomyocyte-specific long action potential duration (186 +/- 12 milliseconds) was recorded with a glass microelectrode from the GFP-labeled UCBMSCs. CM were observed in UCBMSCs, which were cocultivated in the same dish with mouse cardiomyocytes separated by a collagen membrane. Cell fusion, therefore, was not a major cause of CM in the UCBMSCs. Approximately half of the human UCBMSCs were successfully transdifferentiated into cardiomyocytes in vitro. UCBMSCs can be a promising cellular source for cardiac stem cell-based therapy. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.     

In Vitro and In Vivo Cardiomyogenic Differentiation of Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells

Cell therapy has developed as a complementary treatment for myocardial regeneration. While both autologous and allogeneic uses have been advocated, the ideal candidate has not been identified yet. Amniotic fluid-derived stem (AFS) cells are potentially a promising resource for cell therapy and tissue engineering of myocardial injuries. However, no information is available regarding their use in an allogeneic context. c-kit-sorted, GFP-positive rat AFS (GFP-rAFS) cells and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (rCMs) were characterized by cytocentrifugation and flow cytometry for the expression of mesenchymal, embryonic and cell lineage-specific antigens. The activation of the myocardial gene program in GFP-rAFS cells was induced by co-culture with rCMs. The stem cell differentiation was evaluated using immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and single cell electrophysiology. The in vivo potential of Endorem-labeled GFP-rAFS cells for myocardial repair was studied by transplantation in the heart of animals with ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R), monitored by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Three weeks after injection a small number of GFP-rAFS cells acquired an endothelial or smooth muscle phenotype and to a lesser extent CMs. Despite the low GFP-rAFS cells count in the heart, there was still an improvement of ejection fraction as measured by MRI. rAFS cells have the in vitro propensity to acquire a cardiomyogenic phenotype and to preserve cardiac function, even if their potential may be limited by poor survival in an allogeneic setting.     

人脐带间充质干细胞分化为心肌细胞的实验研究

目的 探讨人脐带间充质干细胞(MSCs)在体外向心肌细胞分化的能力及移植后对急性心肌梗死大鼠心功能恢复的影响.方法 胶原酶胰酶消化法分离脐带MSCs.取第4-6代脐带干细胞,采用5-氮胞苷诱导,免疫组织化学和免疫荧光法对诱导后细胞进行鉴定.建立大鼠心肌梗死模型,并按完全随机法将其分为2组(n=10):细胞移植组和空白对照组.将培养脐带MSCs移植到大鼠梗死心肌周围,4周后,免疫荧光法鉴定移植细胞,并超声检测心功能改变.结果 体外诱导后,细胞的形态不断发生变化,诱导后的细胞表达心肌特异性α-肌动蛋白、肌球蛋白和肌钙蛋白T,阳性率在50%以上.细胞移植4周后,脐带MSCs在缺血心肌内存活并分化为心肌样细胞,心功能检测显示脐带MSCs移植组大鼠在移植后4周的左心室射血分数[(68.4±15.2)%]比对照组大鼠明显增加[(53.2±13.4)%,P＜0.05].结论 人脐带MSCs能够在体内外分化为心肌样细胞,并能促进心脏功能的恢复.     

Rat marrow stromal cells are more sensitive to plating density and expand more rapidly from single-cell-derived colonies than human marrow stromal cells

Human marrow stromal cell (hMSCs) were recently shown to expand rapidly in culture when plated at a low density of approximately 3 cells/cm(2). Low-density plating promoted proliferation of small recycling stem (RS) cells that appeared to be the most multipotent cells in the cultures. Here we demonstrated that MSCs from rat bone marrow (rMSCs) are even more sensitive to low-density plating than hMSCS: When plated at approximately 2 cells/cm(2), the cells expanded over 4,000-fold in 12 days, over twice the maximal rate observed with hMSCS: Analysis by fluorescence-activated cell sorter demonstrated that rMSCs had the same heterogeneity seen with hMSCs in that the cultures contained both small rapidly RS cells and much larger mature cells (mMSCs). The rat mMSCs differed from human mMSCs in that they regenerated RS cells in culture. Also, after low-density plating, colonies of rMSCs expanded into confluent cultures, whereas colonies of hMSCs did not.     

Characterization of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from mouse fetal bone marrow

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are defined as cells that can differentiate into multiple mesenchymal lineage cells. MSCs have some features (surface molecules and cytokine production, etc.) common to so-called traditional bone marrow (BM) stromal cells, which have the capacity to support hemopoiesis. In the present study, we isolated murine MSCs (mMSCs) from the fetal BM using an anti-PA6 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that is specific for bone marrow stromal cells. The mMSCs, called FMS/PA6-P cells, are adherent, fibroblastic, and extensively expanded and have the ability to differentiate not only into osteoblasts and adipocytes but also into vascular endothelial cells. The FMS/PA6-P cells produce a broad spectrum of cytokines and growth factors closely related to hemopoiesis and show good hemopoiesis-supporting capacity both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that they are a component of the hemopoietic stem cell niche in vivo. Interestingly, although the FMS/PA6-P cells express a high level of the PA6 molecule, which is reactive with anti-PA6 mAb, they gradually lose their ability to express this molecule during the course of differentiation into osteoblasts and adipocytes, indicating that the PA6 molecule might serve as a novel marker of mMSCs.     

Functional neuronal differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Recent results have shown the ability of bone marrow cells to migrate in the brain and to acquire neuronal or glial characteristics. In vitro, bone marrow-derived MSCs can be induced by chemical compounds to express markers of these lineages. In an effort to set up a mouse model of such differentiation, we addressed the neuronal potentiality of mouse MSCs (mMSCs) that we recently purified. These cells expressed nestin, a specific marker of neural progenitors. Under differentiating conditions, mMSCs display a distinct neuronal shape and express neuronal markers NF-L (neurofilament-light, or neurofilament 70 kDa) and class III beta-tubulin. Moreover, differentiated mMSCs acquire neuron-like functions characterized by a cytosolic calcium rise in response to various specific neuronal activators. Finally, we further demonstrated for the first time that clonal mMSCs and their progeny are competent to differentiate along the neuronal pathway, demonstrating that these bone marrow-derived stem cells share characteristics of widely multipotent stem cells unrestricted to mesenchymal differentiation pathways.     

Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells enhances axonal outgrowth and cell survival in an organotypic spinal cord slice culture

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have demonstrated a measurable therapeutic effect following transplantation into animal models of spinal cord injury. However, the mechanism(s) by which transplanted cells promote nerve regeneration and/or functional recovery remains indeterminate. Several studies have suggested that MSCs promote tissue repair via secretion of trophic factors, but delineating the effect of such factors is difficult due to the complexity of the in vivo systems. Therefore, we developed an organotypic spinal cord slice culture system that can be sustained for sufficient periods of time in vitro to evaluate nerve regeneration as an ex vivo model of spinal cord injury. Using this model, we demonstrate that treatment of lumbar slices of spinal cord with lysolecithin induced a significant degree of cell death and demyelination of nerve fibers, but that these effects were ameliorated to a significant extent following co-culture of slices with human MSCs (hMSCs). The results indicate that transplanted hMSCs alter the tissue microenvironment in a way that promotes survival of endogenous cells, including injured neurons, immature oligodendrocytes and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. This ex vivo culture system represents a useful tool to further dissect the mechanism(s) by which MSCs promote regeneration of injured nervous tissue.     

Functional activity of the carboxyl-terminally extended oxytocin precursor Peptide during cardiac differentiation of embryonic stem cells

The hypothalamic post-translational processing of oxytocin (OT)-neurophysin precursor involves the formation of C-terminally extended OT forms (OT-X) that serve as intermediate prohormones. Despite abundant expression of the entire functional OT system in the developing heart, the biosynthesis and implication of OT prohormones in cardiomyogenesis remain unknown. In the present work, we investigated the involvement of OT-X in cardiac differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells. Functional studies revealed the OT receptor-mediated cardiomyogenic action of OT-Gly-Lys-Arg (OT-GKR). To obtain further insight into the mechanisms of OT-GKR-induced cardiac effects, we generated ES cell lines overexpressing the OT-GKR gene and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The functionality of the OT-GKR/EGFP construct was assessed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, with further confirmation by radioimmunoassay and immunostaining. Increased spontaneously beating activity of OT-GKR/EGFP-expressing embryoid bodies and elevated expression of GATA-4 and myosin light chain 2v cardiac genes indicated an inductive effect of endogenous OT-GKR on ES cell-derived cardiomyogenesis. Furthermore, patch-clamp experiments demonstrated induction of ventricular phenotypes in OT-GKR/EGFP-transfected and in OT-GKR-treated cardiomyocytes. Increased connexin 43 protein in OT-GKR/EGFP-expressing cells further substantiated the evidence that OT-GKR modifies cardiac differentiation toward the ventricular sublineage. In conclusion, this report provides new evidence of the biological activity of OT-X, notably OT-GKR, during cardiomyogenic differentiation.     

Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells express glial markers and stimulate nerve regeneration

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can trans-differentiate into neuronal phenotypes. We examined the differentiation of marrow stromal cells (MSCs) in culture and during nerve regeneration. MSCs from adult rats were exposed to glial growth factor (GGF) to stimulate glial differentiation. Subsequently differentiated MSCs were retrovirally labelled with green fluorescent protein and transplanted into 1 cm nerve conduits in the rat sciatic nerve. Fifteen days post-operatively the conduits were examined for axonal and Schwann cell regeneration and MSC integration. In vitro, MSCs exposed to GGF expressed S100 and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Following transplantation, MSCs maintained S100 expression and enhanced nerve regeneration, with significant Schwann cell regeneration compared to control (2.7 +/- 0.21 vs. 2.05 +/- .21 mm; P < 0.05). MSCs not exposed to GGF prior to transplantation expressed S100 in vivo indicating glial differentiation in response to local cytokines and growth factors.     

Force measurements of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in an in vitro transplantation model

Human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived cardiomyocytes have been suggested for cardiac cell replacement therapy. However, there are no data on loaded contractions developed by these cells and the regulation thereof. We developed a novel in vitro transplantation model in which beating cardiomyocytes derived from hESCs (line H1) were isolated and transplanted onto noncontractile, ischemically damaged ventricular slices of murine hearts. After 2-3 days, transplanted cells started to integrate mechanically into the existing matrix, resulting in spontaneous movements of the whole preparation. Preparations showed a length-dependent increase of active tension. In transplanted early beating hESC-derived cardiomyocytes, frequency modulation by field stimulation was limited to a small range around their spontaneous beating rate. Our data demonstrate that this novel in vitro transplantation model is well suited to assess the mechanical properties and functional integration of cells suggested for cardiac replacement strategies.     

Effects of a bone-like mineral film on phenotype of adult human mesenchymal stem cells in vitro

Multipotent cell types are rapidly becoming key components in a variety of tissue engineering schemes, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are emerging as an important tool in bone tissue regeneration. Although several soluble signals influencing osteogenic differentiation of MSCs in vitro are well-characterized, relatively little is known about the influence of substrate signals. This study was aimed at elucidating the effects of a bone-like mineral (BLM), which is vital in the process of bone bonding to orthopedic implant materials, on the osteogenic differentiation of human MSCs in vitro. Growth of a BLM film (carbonate apatite, Ca/P = 1.55) on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) substrates was achieved via surface hydrolysis and subsequent incubation in a modified simulated body fluid. The BLM film demonstrated significantly increased adsorption of fibronectin, and supported enhanced proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) relative to PLG substrates. In the absence of osteogenic supplements hMSCs did not display a high expression of osteogenic markers on BLM or PLG. In the presence of osteogenic supplements hMSCs exhibited greater expression of osteogenic markers on PLG substrates than on BLM substrates, as measured by alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin production. Taken together, these data support the concept that substrate signals significantly influence MSC growth and differentiation, highlighting the importance of carrier material composition in stem cell-based tissue engineering schemes.