Gene expression profile of human bone marrow stromal cells determined by restriction fragment differential display analysis

Using an in vitro osteogenic culture system, we carried out a restriction fragment differential display (RFDD-PCR) to identify genes expressed by these cells in their undifferentiated stage and not expressed, or expressed at a lower level, in a closely related but distinct cell type: bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC)-derived osteoblasts (BDO). Forty-seven candidate regulated genes, selected by RFDD, were analyzed by RT-PCR analysis in three cell clones and in primary cultures from seven different donors. A subset of three genes were confirmed as upregulated in BMSC relative to BDO in every primary culture and cloned population examined: βIG-h3, IGFbp3, and LOXL2. Their differential expression was confirmed by Northern analysis and the corresponding proteins were detected by immunolocalization in BMSC.