COLLAGEN TYPE II GENE EXPRESSION IN MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS DELIVERED FROM RATS FEEDING WITH LEAD ACETATE II

Background and Objectives: One of the most harmful heavy metals with deleterious effects on tissues is lead (Pb). In this project, the effects of lead acetate II oral doses on Collagen type II gene expression in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in chondrogenic media were studied. Collagen type II is one of the most plentiful differentiated proteins of the in extracellular matrix (ECM) in cartilage. Methods: Twelve male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. Except libitum feed, the first group were fed orally by 50 ppm lead acetate II, the second group were fed orally by 100 ppm lead acetate II while the control group was fed by distilled water for 2 months. After killing, the femoral bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) were isolated then cultured in chondrogenic medium. Finally the gene expression of Collagen type II was evaluated by real time PCR. Results: After 2 passages, Population Doubling Time of MSCs in the second group was more than the first while the control group was the least. Real time PCR demonstrated that after feeding rats bone marrow with lead acetate II, Collagen type II gene expression in MSCs in chondrogenic medium decreased significantly in the second group compared with the first, while Collagen type II gene expression in the control group was the most. Conclusion: It seems that accumulation of lead acetate II with the doses 50 and 100 ppm in rat bone marrow in femur lead to reduce Collagen type II gene expression in MSCs in chondrogenic medium thus, public health is a priority. Kew words: Bone Marrow, lead acetate, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Real-Time PCR, Collagen type II