Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41557105›Full record

ArticleTissue engineering and regenerative medicine2026

Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Mechanisms of Anoikis Resistance in Spheroid-Cultured Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Yuma Iwata, Tomofumi Kodama, Takahiro Ishikawa, Li Ni, Xianqi Li, Koki Baba, Koyo Takahashi, Naoto Ogiwara, Sonoko Hatano, Akifumi Furuhashi and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Yuma IwataDepartment of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazako-Karimata, Nagakute, 480-1195, Japan.
Tomofumi KodamaGraduate School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, 480-1195, Japan.
Takahiro IshikawaDepartment of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazako-Karimata, Nagakute, 480-1195, Japan.
Li NiDepartment of Hard Tissue Research, Graduate School of Oral Medicine, Matsumoto Dental University, Shiojiri, 399-0781, Japan.
Xianqi LiDepartment of Hard Tissue Research, Graduate School of Oral Medicine, Matsumoto Dental University, Shiojiri, 399-0781, Japan.
Koki BabaThe College of Medical Technology, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201318, China.
Koyo TakahashiBiotech Business Unit, artience Co., Ltd., Incubation Center5-6-7 Chiyoda, Sakado-City, Saitama, 350-0214, Japan.
Naoto OgiwaraBiotech Business Unit, artience Co., Ltd., Incubation Center5-6-7 Chiyoda, Sakado-City, Saitama, 350-0214, Japan.
Sonoko HatanoInstitute for Molecular Science of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, 480-1195, Japan.
Akifumi FuruhashiDepartment of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazako-Karimata, Nagakute, 480-1195, Japan.
Yoshiaki KazaokaDepartment of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazako-Karimata, Nagakute, 480-1195, Japan.
Hideaki KagamiDepartment of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazako-Karimata, Nagakute, 480-1195, Japan. hideaki.kagami@aichi-med-u.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2285-2602

Funding

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science London 20K21690Japan Society for the Promotion of Science London 22K10045Japan Society for the Promotion of Science London 24K12991Japan Society for the Promotion of Science London 25K13074
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMesenchymal stem (stromal) cells are a promising cell source for regenerative medicine, but their therapeutic efficacy is often limited by poor engraftment and survival post-transplantation. One major contributing factor is anoikis, a form of apoptosis triggered by cell detachment from the extracellular matrix. Spheroid culture systems have shown potential to enhance cell survival and stemness, yet the mechanisms by which they confer resistance to anoikis remain unclear.

methodsWe established spontaneous spheroids from human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem (stromal) cells (UC-MSCs) and performed RNA-sequencing analysis to compare gene expression profiles between spheroid and monolayer cultures. Differentially expressed genes were identified and subjected to GO and pathway enrichment analyses. Functional assays included the use of PI3K/Akt and HIF-1 pathway inhibitors to dissect their role in anoikis regulation. Expression levels of apoptosis-related genes were validated by qRT-PCR.

resultsSpheroid UC-MSCs exhibited significantly enhanced resistance to anoikis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes, suggesting a balanced but regulated apoptotic threshold. Downregulation of executioner genes such as BAX, BAK1, and FADD, along with activation of PI3K/Akt and HIF-1α pathways, suggested effective suppression of apoptotic execution. Inhibitor experiments confirmed these pathways as key contributors to anoikis resistance.

conclusionOur findings demonstrate that spheroid formation promotes a survival-permissive gene expression profile in UC-MSCs, driven in part by PI3K/Akt and hypoxia signaling. These insights advance the understanding of spheroid-mediated anoikis resistance and may inform strategies to enhance stem cell-based therapies.

Indexed as

AnoikisGene Expression ProfilingMesenchymal Stem CellsSpheroids, CellularUmbilical CordCells, CulturedHumansPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktSignal TransductionPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktAnoikisApoptosisMesenchymal stem cellsSignaling pathwaySpheroidsUmbilical cord

Identifiers

PMID41557105
PMCPMC13031582

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.