Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-6 Alters Skeletal Muscle Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Figure 11

Model of IGFBP-6 functions on PMSC differentiation into skeletal muscle. PMSCs under normal growth conditions (10% FBS) express high levels of pluripotency-associated markers OCT4 and SOX2. As these cells commit towards the skeletal muscle lineage, increased IGFBP-6 correlated with increased Pax3/7 that decreased as differentiation markers (MyoG, MyoD, and MHC) were increased. Both committed and differentiated muscle cells continued to express and secrete IGFBP-6. As IGFBP-6 increased, there was an increase in multipotency markers, as well as, an earlier commitment and differentiation towards the muscle lineage. Thus, IGFBP-6 was required for maintaining multipotency and enhancing muscle commitment and differentiation.