Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Fibroblast-Derived Extracellular Matrix Synergistically Activate Apoptosis in a p21-Dependent Mechanism in WHCO1 and MDA MB 231 Cancer Cells In Vitro

Figure 7

MSCs and the fd-ECM downregulate tumorigenic signaling pathways. (a) Western blot analysis of lysates from WHCO1 cells cocultured with MSCs or cultured on an fd-ECM for 48 hrs showing expression of TGF-β, p-ERK 1,2, p-Smad 2, Nodal, p-Akt, and β-catenin. (b) Western blot analysis of lysates from MDA MB 231 cells cocultured with MSCs or cultured on an fd-ECM for 48 hrs showing expression of the same genes as in (a). ((c)-(d)) Activation of the Akt pathway reverses the effect of hMSCs and fd-ECM on p21 expression. Cocultured WHC01 (a) and those plated on fd-ECM (b) were treated with 10 nM basic fibroblast growth factor for 48 hrs. Western blot analysis was performed on the protein lysates to determine p-Akt, Nodal, and p21 expression.

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