Open AccessTransforming Growth Factor β‐Activated Kinase 1 Regulates Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation Through Stabilization of Yap1/Taz Proteins
Author(s) -
Onodera Yuta,
Teramura Takeshi,
Takehara Toshiyuki,
Fukuda Kanji
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1002/stem.3083
Subject(s) - biology , mesenchymal stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , stem cell , transplantation , yap1 , growth factor , cell growth , transforming growth factor , cancer research , medicine , transcription factor , receptor , biochemistry , gene
Bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) are multipotent stem cells capable of differentiation into a variety of cell types, proliferation, and production of clinically useful secretory factors. These advantages make BMMSCs highly useful for cell transplantation therapy. However, the molecular network underlying BMMSC proliferation remains poorly understood. Here, we showed that TGFβ‐activated kinase 1 (Tak1) is a critical molecule that regulates the activation of cell cycling and that Tak1 inhibition leads to quiescence in BMMSCs both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, Tak1 was phosphorylated by growth factor stimulations, allowing it to bind and stabilize Yap1/Taz, which could then be localized to the nucleus. We also demonstrated that the quiescence induction by inhibiting Tak1 increased oxidized stress tolerance and improved BMMSC engraftment in intramuscular and intrabone marrow cell transplantation models. This study reveals a novel pathway controlling BMMSC proliferation and suggests a useful method to improve the therapeutic effect of BMMSC transplantation. Stem Cells 2019;37:1595–1605