Volume : 12, Issue : 11, November – 2025
Title:
HYPOXIA-DRIVEN PROLIFERATION AND MORPHOLOGICAL REMODELING IN HUMAN UMBILICAL CORD-DERIVED MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS
Authors :
Moshera Alansi, Mohammed Gamah, Maged Almezgagi, Huang Pan, Yougang Ma, Xiaobo Wang, Emad Shamsan, Minmin Wei, Ting Wang Ya, Lan Ma△
Abstract :
Background: Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) are widely used in regenerative medicine due to their multipotency, immunomodulatory properties, and paracrine effects. Oxygen tension in the cellular microenvironment plays a pivotal role in regulating MSC behavior, yet the specific effects of hypoxia on hUCMSC morphology and proliferation remain incompletely understood.
Methods: Passage 4 hUCMSCs were cultured under normoxic (21% O₂) or hypoxic (1% O₂) conditions for 48 h. Cell proliferation was assessed via direct cell counting and confluence-based imaging, while morphological changes were evaluated through phase-contrast microscopy and quantitative analysis of cell length and area using ImageJ. All experiments were performed in triplicate.
Results: Hypoxic preconditioning induced distinct morphological changes, including increased cell length (160 ± 20 µm vs. 120 ± 15 µm; p < 0.05) but decreased cell area (1500 ± 180 µm² vs. 1800 ± 200 µm²; p < 0.01) compared to normoxia. Importantly, hypoxia significantly accelerated proliferation rates and confluence. Quantitative viability assays were not performed and should be included to confirm that proliferation increases occur without loss of viability. These findings suggest that low oxygen tension promotes both cell elongation and changes in cell size and enhanced proliferative activity.
Conclusion: Exposure to 1% O₂ for 48 h modulates hUCMSC morphology and growth dynamics by enhancing proliferation. Hypoxic preconditioning emerges as a practical strategy to optimize MSC characteristics for regenerative applications. These results provide a foundation for further studies on functional enhancements, including migration, paracrine secretion, and therapeutic efficacy.
Cite This Article:
Please cite this article in press Lan Ma et al., Hypoxia-Driven Proliferation And Morphological Remodeling In Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2025; 12(11).
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