CD49f Acts as an Inflammation Sensor to Regulate Differentiation, Adhesion, and Migration of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Here, we studied the role of CD49f (also known as integrin α6) in bone marrow MSCs. CD49f is preferentially expressed in fetal cells rather than adult cells, CD49f‐positive BM-MSCs possess higher CFU‐F formation ability and differentiation potential than CD49f negative cells, and the CD49f expression of BM-MSCs gradually decreases during in vitro passaging. An adhesion assay showed strong adhesion of BM-MSCs to both laminin 511 and 521 that were significantly higher than the control group coated with BSA, and the adhesion occurred evenly throughout the well. Pre‐blocking of CD49f on BM-MSCs inhibited the adhesion of fetal BM-MSCs to laminin 511 and 521. Also, CD49f knockdown dramatically decreased the differentiation of BMSCs. Inflammation (TNF-a) down-regulated CD49f in BMSCs with impaired differentiation, decreased adhesion to laminins and increased migration. This study provides evidence for CD49f as a stemness marker of BMSCs which is correlated with cell adhesion on laminin-521 and -511.