Control of human mesenchymal stromal cell gene expression levels by sound-guided assembly and stimulation

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (hBMSCs) play a pivotal role in regenerative medicine due to their multipotent differentiation capacity. Conventional approaches to modulate hBMSC behavior primarily involve mechanical and biochemical cues. However, emerging evidence suggests that acoustic stimulation offers a novel, non-invasive strategy to influence cellular function. Here, we describe and validate a reproducible method to investigate the effects of acoustic assembly and stimulation on hBMSC gene expression, with particular emphasis on the impact of sound-guided cell assembly and subsequent acoustic exposure. This methodological framework provides new insights into the potential of acoustics as standardizable tool for experimentally modulating stem cell behavior at the transcriptional level. Overall design: Comparison of gene expression across three conditions: (1) Dispersed spheroids ("D"), (2) Sound-guided assembly ("A"), and (3) Sound-guided assembly with additional acoustic stimulation ("A+S"). Samples were analyzed on Day 2. Each group includes n=2 biological replicates.