Hypoxia Enhances Cell Properties of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Atmospheric (in vitro) oxygen pressure is around 150 mm Hg (20% O₂), whereas physiologic (in vivo) oxygen pressure ranges between 5 and 50 mm Hg (0.7–7% O₂). The normoxic environment in cell culture does not refer to a physiological stem cell niche. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of oxygen concentration on cell properties of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We analyzed cell proliferation rate, senescence, immunophenotype, stemness gene expression and differentiation potency with human urine stem cells (USCs), dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs), and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). USCs, DPSCs, AFSCs and BMSCs were cultured under either 5% O₂ hypoxic or 20% O₂ normoxic conditions for 5 days. MSCs cultured under hypoxia showed significantly increased proliferation rate and high percentage of S-phase cells, compared to normoxic condition. In real-time PCR assay, the cells cultured under hypoxia expressed higher level of Oct4, C-Myc, Nanog, Nestin and HIF-1α. In immunophenotype analysis, MSCs cultured under hypoxia maintained higher level of the MSC surface markers, and lower hematopoietic markers. Senescence was inhibited under hypoxia. Hypoxia enhances osteogenic differentiation efficiency compared to normoxia. Hypoxia showed enhanced cell proliferation rate, retention of stem cell properties, inhibition of senescence, and increased differentiation ability compared to normoxia.