Therapeutic Potential of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Inhibiting Myofibroblastic Differentiation of Irradiated XXXX Lung Fibroblasts.

@entity1 @entity82 @entity2 @entity59414 @entity1970 @entity651 @entity3546 @entity13040
@entity651 ( @entity651 ) limits the benefits of radiotherapy in @entity1 with @entity2 . Radiation-induced differentiation of lung fibroblasts to myofibroblasts plays a key role in @entity651 . Recent studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can protect against @entity82 and that Wnt/ @entity3546 signaling is involved in fibrotic processes. In the present study, we explored the therapeutic potential of @entity1 umbilical cord MSCs (HUMSCs) for preventing radiation-induced differentiation of @entity1 lung fibroblasts (HLFs) to myofibroblasts. There are two advantages in the use of HUMSCs; namely, they are easily obtained and have low immunogenicity. Irradiated HLFs were co-cultured with HUMSCs. Expression of a-smooth muscle actin ( @entity1970 ), a myofibroblast marker, was measured by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Irradiation (X-rays, 5 Gy) induced the differentiation of HLFs into myofibroblasts, which was inhibited by co-culture with HUMSCs. Irradiation also caused activation of the canonical Wnt/ @entity3546 signaling in HLFs, as judged by increased phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3b, nuclear accumulation of @entity3546 , and elevated levels of @entity59414 ( @entity59414 ) in the conditioned medium. However, co-culture with HUMSCs attenuated the radiation-induced activation of the Wnt/ @entity3546 signaling. We also measured the expression of @entity13040 that can enhance the Wnt/ @entity3546 signaling by stabilizing @entity3546 . Co-culture with HUMSCs decreased @entity13040 protein levels in irradiated nHLFs. Thus, co-culture with HUMSCs attenuated the radiation-induced activation of Wnt/ @entity3546 signaling in HLFs, thereby inhibiting myofibroblastic differentiation of HLFs. Wnt/ @entity3546 signaling is a potential therapeutic target for limiting @entity651 in @entity1 receiving radiotherapy for @entity2 .
