TY - EJOU AU - Jamal, Syed A TI - Purmorphamine Promotes Matrix Mineralization and Cytoskeletal Changes in Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells T2 - Molecular \& Cellular Biomechanics PY - 2013 VL - 10 IS - 4 SN - 1556-5300 AB - Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hUCMSCs) were subjected to in vitro osteogenic differentiation using a novel combination of signaling molecules including BMP-2 and purmorphamine. Differentiation outcomes were assessed by calcein staining and by microscopic examination of the cytoskeleton. Calcein staining showed appreciable degree of calcium mineralization in cell culture, and changes in the morphological attributes of differentiating cells were observed vis-a-vis the actin cytoskeleton. Finally, positive calcein staining, altered cytoskeletal profile, and stress fiber formation in treated cells demonstrated, for the first time, a potentially synergistic interplay between BMP-2 and the hedgehog agonist, purmorphamine. This study lends support to the notion of combining small doses of potent molecules that can act as safe, less toxic inducers of osteogenic differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells with respect to bone regeneration. KW - purmorphamine KW - BMP-2 KW - lithium chloride KW - hUMSCs (human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells KW - fibroblast KW - osteogenic differentiation KW - cytoskeletons KW - actin stress fibers DO - 10.3970/mcb.2013.010.267