Aim: To investigate a suitable method of inducing cell cycle synchronization at G0/G1 stage of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
Methods: MSCs were cultured and identified with CD44, CD90, CD71 and CD11b by flow cytometer. Cell cycle and apotosis under normal and low serum culture were detected by flow cytometer.
Results: MSCs were positive for CD44, CD90 and CD71 and negative for CD11b. The cells at G0/G1 cell stage decreased, while the cells at S and G2 cell stage increased in 1 day of 50 mL/L fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1 to 3 days of 5 mL/L FBS. However, prolonged culture in serum-starvation medium induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 stage. The ratio of apoptotic cells did not increase in 50 mL/L FBS. In 5 mL/L FBS, the ratio of apoptotic cells increased in 3 days and then decreased in 4 to 5 days. The proportion of cells at G0/G1 phase was significantly increased from 75.9% to 89.4% while the ratio of apoptotic cells was only 0.162% in 5 days of 5 mL/L FBS.
Conclusion: It is a good method to induce the synchrony of cell cycle of MSCs at G0/G1 stage in five days of 5 mL/L FBS.