Identification of tumorigenic risk genes in human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells treated with 3-methylcholanthrene

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) capable of tumour topotaxis have been served as cellular vehicles to deliver anti-tumour agents. As cellular components of the tumour microenvironment, MSCs also affect tumour progression. However, the tumour transformation-related genes of MSCs remain unclear since either tumorigenic or tumour suppressor effects within these cells have been researched. Hence, we aimed to identify potential biomarkers indicative of tumorigenic risk by RNA-seq analysis of human placenta tissue-derived MSCs (hPTMSCs) exposed to the carcinogenic agent, 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC). Twenty-nine tumour transformation-related genes and three pluripotency-related genes were appraised as differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in hPTMSCs. Overexpression of sfrp1 led to reduced cell viability, migration, and colony formation in A549. In contrast, the overexpression of ptgs2 exerted the opposite effect. These results indicate that A549 cells with high ptgs2 expression but low sfrp1 expression may have a more potential tumorigenic capacity. Taken together, this study suggests that ptgs2 and sfrp1 may be tumorigenic risk genes.