Research ArticleOpen Access

Positive Association of Intracellular Sodium Ion Concentration with Stemness of Deer Antler Stem Cells

Volume 6 - Issue 1

Zhao Haiping¹, Chen Guangxin², Li Haitao¹ and Li Chunyi^2,3

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- ¹ Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, China
- ² Institute of Special Wild Economic Animals and Plants, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
- ³ Changchun Sci-Tech University, China
*Corresponding author:Li Haitao, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Nanjing, 210029, China

Li Chunyi, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Nanjing, 210029, China

Received: June 15, 2018; Published: June 25, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.06.001294

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Abstract

Intracellular sodium ion functions as an initiating signal for organ regeneration in lower vertebrates, such as amphibians, Intracellular sodium ion concentration ([Na+]) was regulated by voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav). However, whether intracellular [Na+] is also involved in mammalian organ regeneration is unknown, because of lacking suitable mammalian models. Deer antlers are a novel model for studying mammalian organ morphogenesis. It is now well known that antlers generate from antlerogenic periosteum (AP) and regenerate from pedicle (antecedent of antler) periosteum (PP). Cells from the AP and PP have stem cell attributes, thus termed antler stem cells. In the present study, the intracellular sodium ion of the cells from the AP, PP and facial periosteum (FP) were strained in vitro with CoroNa Green indicator dye.

Expression of voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav) genes was detected using RT-PCR. Results showed that intracellular [Na+] in three cell types was significantly different: AP cells>PP cells>FP cells. Expression of the currently known ten Nav genes were all detected in the AP cells; whereas, expression of Nav1.1 gene not detected neither in the PP nor the FP cells, and expression of Nav 1.1 and Nav 1.4 genes not detected in the FP cells. Difference in Nav gene expression in the different antler stem cells may contribute to the different intracellular [Na+] in these cells, which then may correlate with the degree of the stemness of antler stem cells. We think our new finding may open up a new avenue for the study of the relationship between intracellular ion concentration and stemness of stem cells in general, hence the stem cell-based organ regeneration in mammals.

Keywords: Deer Antler; Stem Cell; Generation and Regeneration; Intracellular Sodium; Nav Gene

Abbrevations: Nav: Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels; AP: Antlerogenic Periosteum; PP: Pedicle Periosteum; FP: Facial Periosteum; [Na+]: Sodium Ion Concentration