Hypoxia-Mimetic CoCl<sub>2</sub> Agent Enhances Pro-Angiogenic Activities in Ovine Amniotic Epithelial Cells-Derived Conditioned Medium

Amniotic epithelial stem cells (AECs) are largely studied for their pro-regenerative properties. However, it remains undetermined if low oxygen (O<sub>2</sub>) levels that AECs experience in vivo can be of value in maintaining their biological properties after isolation. To this aim, the...

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Main Authors: Miriam Di Mattia, Annunziata Mauro, Simona Delle Monache, Fanny Pulcini, Valentina Russo, Paolo Berardinelli, Maria Rita Citeroni, Maura Turriani, Alessia Peserico, Barbara Barboni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-01-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/3/461
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author Miriam Di Mattia
Annunziata Mauro
Simona Delle Monache
Fanny Pulcini
Valentina Russo
Paolo Berardinelli
Maria Rita Citeroni
Maura Turriani
Alessia Peserico
Barbara Barboni
author_facet Miriam Di Mattia
Annunziata Mauro
Simona Delle Monache
Fanny Pulcini
Valentina Russo
Paolo Berardinelli
Maria Rita Citeroni
Maura Turriani
Alessia Peserico
Barbara Barboni
author_sort Miriam Di Mattia
collection DOAJ
description Amniotic epithelial stem cells (AECs) are largely studied for their pro-regenerative properties. However, it remains undetermined if low oxygen (O<sub>2</sub>) levels that AECs experience in vivo can be of value in maintaining their biological properties after isolation. To this aim, the present study has been designed to evaluate the effects of a hypoxia-mimetic agent, cobalt chloride (CoCl<sub>2</sub>), on AECs’ stemness and angiogenic activities. First, a CoCl<sub>2</sub> dose-effect was performed to select the concentration able to induce hypoxia, through HIF-1α stabilization, without promoting any cytotoxicity effect assessed through the analysis of cell vitality, proliferation, and apoptotic-related events. Then, the identified CoCl<sub>2</sub> dose was evaluated on the expression and angiogenic properties of AECs’ stemness markers (<i>OCT-4, NANOG, SOX-2</i>) by analysing VEGF expression, angiogenic chemokines’ profiles, and AEC-derived conditioned media activity through an in vitro angiogenic xeno-assay. Results demonstrated that AECs are sensitive to the cytotoxicity effects of CoCl<sub>2</sub>. The unique concentration leading to HIF-1α stabilization and nuclear translocation was 10 µM, preserving cell viability and proliferation up to 48 h. CoCl<sub>2</sub> exposure did not modulate stemness markers in AECs while progressively decreasing VEGF expression. On the contrary, CoCl<sub>2</sub> treatment promoted a significant short-term release of angiogenic chemokines in culture media (CM). The enrichment in bio-active factors was confirmed by the ability of CoCl<sub>2</sub>-derived CM to induce HUVEC growth and the cells’ organization in tubule-like structures. These findings demonstrate that an appropriate dose of CoCl<sub>2</sub> can be adopted as a hypoxia-mimetic agent in AECs. The short-term, chemical-induced hypoxic condition can be targeted to enhance AECs’ pro-angiogenic properties by providing a novel approach for stem cell-free therapy protocols.
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spelling doaj.art-bce615b3a65842ec9a14a5eb21a816fe2023-11-23T16:12:17ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092022-01-0111346110.3390/cells11030461Hypoxia-Mimetic CoCl<sub>2</sub> Agent Enhances Pro-Angiogenic Activities in Ovine Amniotic Epithelial Cells-Derived Conditioned MediumMiriam Di Mattia0Annunziata Mauro1Simona Delle Monache2Fanny Pulcini3Valentina Russo4Paolo Berardinelli5Maria Rita Citeroni6Maura Turriani7Alessia Peserico8Barbara Barboni9Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, ItalyFaculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyFaculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, ItalyFaculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, ItalyFaculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, ItalyFaculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, ItalyFaculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, ItalyFaculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, ItalyAmniotic epithelial stem cells (AECs) are largely studied for their pro-regenerative properties. However, it remains undetermined if low oxygen (O<sub>2</sub>) levels that AECs experience in vivo can be of value in maintaining their biological properties after isolation. To this aim, the present study has been designed to evaluate the effects of a hypoxia-mimetic agent, cobalt chloride (CoCl<sub>2</sub>), on AECs’ stemness and angiogenic activities. First, a CoCl<sub>2</sub> dose-effect was performed to select the concentration able to induce hypoxia, through HIF-1α stabilization, without promoting any cytotoxicity effect assessed through the analysis of cell vitality, proliferation, and apoptotic-related events. Then, the identified CoCl<sub>2</sub> dose was evaluated on the expression and angiogenic properties of AECs’ stemness markers (<i>OCT-4, NANOG, SOX-2</i>) by analysing VEGF expression, angiogenic chemokines’ profiles, and AEC-derived conditioned media activity through an in vitro angiogenic xeno-assay. Results demonstrated that AECs are sensitive to the cytotoxicity effects of CoCl<sub>2</sub>. The unique concentration leading to HIF-1α stabilization and nuclear translocation was 10 µM, preserving cell viability and proliferation up to 48 h. CoCl<sub>2</sub> exposure did not modulate stemness markers in AECs while progressively decreasing VEGF expression. On the contrary, CoCl<sub>2</sub> treatment promoted a significant short-term release of angiogenic chemokines in culture media (CM). The enrichment in bio-active factors was confirmed by the ability of CoCl<sub>2</sub>-derived CM to induce HUVEC growth and the cells’ organization in tubule-like structures. These findings demonstrate that an appropriate dose of CoCl<sub>2</sub> can be adopted as a hypoxia-mimetic agent in AECs. The short-term, chemical-induced hypoxic condition can be targeted to enhance AECs’ pro-angiogenic properties by providing a novel approach for stem cell-free therapy protocols.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/3/461amniotic epithelial cellshypoxiaCoCl<sub>2</sub>HIF-1αstemnessconditioned media
spellingShingle Miriam Di Mattia
Annunziata Mauro
Simona Delle Monache
Fanny Pulcini
Valentina Russo
Paolo Berardinelli
Maria Rita Citeroni
Maura Turriani
Alessia Peserico
Barbara Barboni
Hypoxia-Mimetic CoCl<sub>2</sub> Agent Enhances Pro-Angiogenic Activities in Ovine Amniotic Epithelial Cells-Derived Conditioned Medium
Cells
amniotic epithelial cells
hypoxia
CoCl<sub>2</sub>
HIF-1α
stemness
conditioned media
title Hypoxia-Mimetic CoCl<sub>2</sub> Agent Enhances Pro-Angiogenic Activities in Ovine Amniotic Epithelial Cells-Derived Conditioned Medium
title_full Hypoxia-Mimetic CoCl<sub>2</sub> Agent Enhances Pro-Angiogenic Activities in Ovine Amniotic Epithelial Cells-Derived Conditioned Medium
title_fullStr Hypoxia-Mimetic CoCl<sub>2</sub> Agent Enhances Pro-Angiogenic Activities in Ovine Amniotic Epithelial Cells-Derived Conditioned Medium
title_full_unstemmed Hypoxia-Mimetic CoCl<sub>2</sub> Agent Enhances Pro-Angiogenic Activities in Ovine Amniotic Epithelial Cells-Derived Conditioned Medium
title_short Hypoxia-Mimetic CoCl<sub>2</sub> Agent Enhances Pro-Angiogenic Activities in Ovine Amniotic Epithelial Cells-Derived Conditioned Medium
title_sort hypoxia mimetic cocl sub 2 sub agent enhances pro angiogenic activities in ovine amniotic epithelial cells derived conditioned medium
topic amniotic epithelial cells
hypoxia
CoCl<sub>2</sub>
HIF-1α
stemness
conditioned media
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/3/461
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