Matrix Elasticity Does Not Affect Replicative Senescence or DNA Methylation Patterns of Mesenchymal Stem Cells [gene expression profiling]

Matrix elasticity influences differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) but it is unclear if these effects are only transient - while the cells reside on the substrate - or if they reflect persistent lineage commitment. In this study, MSCs were continuously culture-expanded in parallel either on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) gels of different elasticity or on tissue culture plastic (TCP) to compare impact on replicative senescence, in vitro differentiation, gene expression, and DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles. The maximal number of cumulative population doublings was not affected by matrix elasticity. Differentiation towards adipogenic and osteogenic lineage was increased on soft and rigid biomaterials, respectively - but this propensity was no more evident if cells were transferred to TCP. Global gene expression profiles and DNAm profiles revealed relatively few differences in MSCs cultured on soft or rigid matrices. Furthermore, only moderate DNAm changes were observed upon culture on very soft hydrogels of human platelet lysate. Our results support the notion that matrix elasticity influences cellular differentiation while the cells are organized on the substrate, but it does not have major impact on cell-intrinsic lineage determination, replicative senescence or DNAm patterns. MSCs cultivated either on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) gels of different elasticity or on tissue culture plastic (TCP) to compare impact on gene expression profiles.