Functional Activity of Non-Proliferating Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Cultured at Different Densities

We analyzed the state of intracellular compartments and production of cytokines in MSC depending on the culture density. MSC were growth-arrested with mitomycin C and seeded at a density of 300-7000 cell/cm2. MSC in low-density cultures had 2-fold higher levels of transmembrane mitochondrial potential (MitoTracker Red) and endogenous ROS (CMHDCFDA), lysosomal compartments were less acidified (LysoTracker Green DND26), the production of immunoregulatory and angiogenic mediators VEGF, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, TGF-β was more intensive. It was assumed that culture density can be an effective tool for phenotypic polarization of MSC providing directional changes in their properties.