Autophagy, Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation, and Secretion

The role of AKR1B10 in osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and atrophic nonunion

Atrophic nonunion is a chronic disease without effective medications. Here, high-throughput mRNA sequencing was used to explore the novel targets in atrophic nonunion. AKR1B10, a member of aldo-keto reductase family 1, is upregulated in atrophic nonunion tissues. There are currently no studies to reveal the role of AKR1B10 in atrophic nonunion. We used rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to explore the effect of AKR1B10 on the osteogenic differentiation and autophagy. In vivo, we implanted collagen sponges loaded with LV-shAKR1B10-transduced BMSCs into rat fractured femurs to explore the role of AKR1B10 in fracture healing. The results showed that AKR1B10 reduced the activity of ALP, suppressed the expression of COL1A1, RUNX2 and OCN, and inhibited calcification deposition in osteogenically differentiated BMSCs. AKR1B10 reduced the expression of LC3II, decreased the number of autophagosomes, and promoted the expression of p62. In addition, the promoting effect of AKR1B10 knockdown on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs was attenuated by 3-MA treatment. Implantation of collagen sponges found that knockdown of AKR1B10 promoted bone fracture healing. In conclusion, AKR1B10 inhibited the osteogenic differentiation and autophagy, and delayed the bone fracture healing. These results provide a new perspective on revealing the role of AKR1B10 in nonunion and may also provide a new therapeutic target for the treatment of nonunion.

Neohesperidin alleviates the inhibitory effect of bisphenol A on the myogenic differentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells via the IGF1R/AKT1/RHOA signaling pathway

Bisphenol A (BPA), a typical environmental endocrine disruptor, has raised concerns among researchers due to its toxicological effects. Whether neohesperidin (NEO) can intervene in the toxic effects of BPA remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the effects and mechanisms of NEO on the myogenic differentiation of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) exposed to BPA. Sheep UC-MSCs were isolated, characterized, and induced to myogenic differentiation. BPA decreased cell viability, cell migration, and the expressions of myogenic marker genes, leading to myogenic differentiation inhibition, which were reversed by NEO. Network pharmacology suggested the IGF1R/AKT1/RHOA pathway as potential targets of BPA and NEO regulating muscle development. Western blot results showed that NEO could reverse the down-regulation of the pathway proteins induced by BPA, and counteract the effects of picropodophyllin (PPP) or MK-2206 dihydrochloride (MK-2206) in the myogenic differentiation of sheep UC-MSCs. Additionally, the expression levels of (p-) IGF1R, AKT1, and RHOA were positively correlated. Taken together, the mechanisms of NEO resistance to BPA involved the IGF1R/AKT1/RHOA signaling pathway. These findings provide a scientific basis for alleviating BPA toxicity, preventing and treating muscular dysplasia, and promoting muscle damage repair.

Pharmacokinetic characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells in translational challenges

Over the past two decades, mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) therapy has made substantial strides, transitioning from experimental clinical applications to commercial products. MSC therapies hold considerable promise for treating refractory and critical conditions such as acute graft-versus-host disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Despite recent successes in clinical and commercial applications, MSC therapy still faces challenges when used as a commercial product. Current detection methods have limitations, leaving the dynamic biodistribution, persistence in injured tissues, and ultimate fate of MSCs in patients unclear. Clarifying the relationship between the pharmacokinetic characteristics of MSCs and their therapeutic effects is crucial for patient stratification and the formulation of precise therapeutic regimens. Moreover, the development of advanced imaging and tracking technologies is essential to address these clinical challenges. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the kinetic properties, key regulatory molecules, different fates, and detection methods relevant to MSCs and discusses concerns in evaluating MSC druggability from the perspective of integrating pharmacokinetics and efficacy. A better understanding of these challenges could improve MSC clinical efficacy and speed up the introduction of MSC therapy products to the market.

Re-establishing immune tolerance in multiple sclerosis: focusing on novel mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cell regulation of Th17/Treg balance

The T-helper 17 (Th17) cell and regulatory T cell (Treg) axis plays a crucial role in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), which is regarded as an immune imbalance between pro-inflammatory cytokines and the maintenance of immune tolerance. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-mediated therapies have received increasing attention in MS research. In MS and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, MSC injection was shown to alter the differentiation of CD4+T cells. This alteration occurred by inducing anergy and reduction in the number of Th17 cells, stimulating the polarization of antigen-specific Treg to reverse the imbalance of the Th17/Treg axis, reducing the inflammatory cascade response and demyelination, and restoring an overall state of immune tolerance. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms by which MSCs regulate the balance between Th17 cells and Tregs, including extracellular vesicles, mitochondrial transfer, metabolic reprogramming, and autophagy. We aimed to identify new targets for MS treatment using cellular therapy by analyzing MSC-mediated Th17-to-Treg polarization.

Regulation of mesenchymal stem cell differentiation by autophagy

Autophagy, a process that isolates intracellular components and fuses them with lysosomes for degradation, plays an important cytoprotective role by eliminating harmful intracellular substances and maintaining cellular homeostasis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells with the capacity for self-renewal that can give rise to a subset of tissues and therefore have potential in regenerative medicine. However, a variety of variables influence the biological activity of MSCs following their proliferation and transplantation in vitro. The regulation of autophagy in MSCs represents a possible mechanism that influences MSC differentiation properties under the right microenvironment, affecting their regenerative and therapeutic potential. However, a deeper understanding of exactly how autophagy is mobilized to function as well as clarifying the mechanisms by which autophagy promotes MSCs differentiation is still needed. Here, we review the current literature on the complex link between MSCs differentiation and autophagy induced by various extracellular or intracellular stimuli and the molecular targets that influence MSCs lineage determination, which may highlight the potential regulation of autophagy on MSCs' therapeutic capacity, and provide a broader perspective on the clinical application of MSCs in the treatment of a wide range of diseases.

hUC-MSCs therapy for Crohn's disease: efficacy in TNBS-induced colitis in rats and pilot clinical study

BACKGROUND

The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has recently emerged as a promising new therapeutic strategy for many diseases including perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease (CD). Whether hUC-MSCs can promote the healing of luminal ulcer in CD has not been studied so far.

METHODS

The model of TNBS-induced colitis in rats was used to confirm the efficacy of hUC-MSCs in the treatment of CD. Then, seventeen CD patients refractory to or unsuitable for currently available therapies were enrolled and received once submucosal local injection through colonoscopy combined with once intravenous drip on the next day. All patients received a 24-week follow-up. Clinical and laboratory assessments were monitored at baseline, week 4, 8, 12, and 24. Endoscopic evaluations were conducted at baseline and week 12. Mucosal specimens were obtained at the margin of lesions by endoscopy biopsies and used for RNA sequencing. Two hUC-MSCs co-culture systems were established in vitro, one with the mucosa specimens and the other with M1 macrophages induced from THP1. The expressions of genes representing inflammation (TNFα, IL-6, and IL-1β) and intestinal barrier function (ZO1, CLAUDIN1, and CDH1) were tested by RT-PCR.

FINDINGS

hUC-MSCs treatment increased body weight and decreased disease activity index (DAI), colon macroscopic damage index (CMDI), and histopathological score (HPS) of rats with TNBS-induced colitis. The results of the clinical study also showed that this mode of hUC-MSCs application was associated with regression of intestinal ulceration. Eight patients (47%) got endoscopic responses (SES-CD improvement of ≥50% from baseline) and three patients (17.65%) got mucosal healing (SES-CD is zero), with a parallel improvement of clinical and laboratory parameters without serious adverse events. RNA sequencing showed hUC-MSCs therapy was associated with an upregulation of transcripts linked to intestinal epithelial barrier integrity and a downregulation of inflammatory signaling pathways in the intestinal mucosa, especially the TNF signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and TLR signaling pathway. RNA expression of intestinal epithelial tight junction protein (ZO1, CLAUDIN1, and CDH1), and the RNA expression of major intestinal inflammatory factors in CD (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα, p < 0.001 for all) were improved significantly. Moreover, hUC-MSCs could attenuate the polarization of M1 macrophage induced from THP1, thereby decreasing the mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα significantly (p < 0.05 for all). TSG-6 expression was evaluated in hUC-MSCs culture supernatant after treatment with TNFα, IFNγ, and LPS for 48 h. And hUC-MSCs could inhibit the phosphorylation of JAK/STAT1 in the intestinal mucosa of CD patients.

INTERPRETATION

hUC-MSCs transplantation alleviated TNBS-induced colitis in rats. In this pilot clinical study, preliminary data suggested that this approach to administering hUC-MSCs might have potential for clinical efficacy and manageable safety in treating refractory CD, potentially providing hope for better outcomes. No serious adverse events were observed.

FUNDING

This work was funded by General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82270639), the Scientific research project of Shanghai Municipal Health Committee (Grant No. 202240001), Specialty Feature Construction Project of Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Commission (Grant No. PWZzb2022-05), Shanghai East Hospital Youth Research and Cultivation Foundation program (Grant No. DFPY2022015), Peak Disciplines (Type IV) of Institutions of Higher Learning in Shanghai and Technology Development Project of Pudong Science, Technology and Economic Commission of Shanghai (Grant No. PKJ2021-Y08).

Regulating pyroptosis by mesenchymal stem cells and extracellular vesicles: A promising strategy to alleviate intervertebral disc degeneration

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a main cause of low back pain (LBP), which can lead to disability and thus generate a heavy burden on society. IVDD is characterized by a decrease in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) and endogenous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), degradation of the extracellular matrix, macrophage infiltration, and blood vessel and nerve ingrowth. To date, the therapeutic approaches regarding IVDD mainly include conservative treatment and surgical intervention. However, both can only relieve symptoms rather than stop or revert the progression of IVDD, since the pathogenesis of IVDD is not yet clear. Pyroptosis, which is characterized by Caspase family dependence and conducted by the Gasdermin family, is a newly discovered mode of programmed cell death. Pyroptosis has been observed in NPCs, annulus fibrosus cells (AFCs), chondrocytes, MSCs, macrophages, vascular endothelial cells and neurons and may contribute to IVDD. MSCs are a kind of pluripotent stem cell that can be found in almost all tissues. MSCs have a strong ability to secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs), which contain exosomes, microvesicles and apoptotic bodies. EVs derived from MSCs play an important role in pyroptosis regulation and could be beneficial for alleviating IVDD. This review focuses on clarifying the regulation of pyroptosis to improve IVDD by MSCs and EVs derived from MSCs.

Dynamic Stimulations with Bioengineered Extracellular Matrix-Mimicking Hydrogels for Mechano Cell Reprogramming and Therapy

Cells interact with their surrounding environment through a combination of static and dynamic mechanical signals that vary over stimulus types, intensity, space, and time. Compared to static mechanical signals such as stiffness, porosity, and topography, the current understanding on the effects of dynamic mechanical stimulations on cells remains limited, attributing to a lack of access to devices, the complexity of experimental set-up, and data interpretation. Yet, in the pursuit of emerging translational applications (e.g., cell manufacturing for clinical treatment), it is crucial to understand how cells respond to a variety of dynamic forces that are omnipresent in vivo so that they can be exploited to enhance manufacturing and therapeutic outcomes. With a rising appreciation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) as a key regulator of biofunctions, researchers have bioengineered a suite of ECM-mimicking hydrogels, which can be fine-tuned with spatiotemporal mechanical cues to model complex static and dynamic mechanical profiles. This review first discusses how mechanical stimuli may impact different cellular components and the various mechanobiology pathways involved. Then, how hydrogels can be designed to incorporate static and dynamic mechanical parameters to influence cell behaviors are described. The Scopus database is also used to analyze the relative strength in evidence, ranging from strong to weak, based on number of published literatures, associated citations, and treatment significance. Additionally, the impacts of static and dynamic mechanical stimulations on clinically relevant cell types including mesenchymal stem cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells, are evaluated. The aim is to draw attention to the paucity of studies on the effects of dynamic mechanical stimuli on cells, as well as to highlight the potential of using a cocktail of various types and intensities of mechanical stimulations to influence cell fates (similar to the concept of biochemical cocktail to direct cell fate). It is envisioned that this progress report will inspire more exciting translational development of mechanoresponsive hydrogels for biomedical applications.

Galangin mitigates glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis by activating autophagy of BMSCs via triggering the PKA/CREB signaling pathway

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP), one of the most common and serious adverse effects associated with glucocorticoid administration, manifests as decreased bone formation and increased bone resorption, eventually culminating in bone loss. Galangin (GAL) is a flavonoid extracted from the medicinal herbal galangal that possesses a variety of pharmacological activities and can inhibit osteoclastogenesis. However, the effects of GAL on GIOP remain unclear. Our study aims to explore the effects of GAL on GIOP in mice and the underlying mechanism. Our results show that GAL markedly mitigates the severity of dexamethasone (Dex)-induced osteoporosis in mice and potentiates osteogenic differentiation in mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Furthermore, GAL also significantly counteracts Dex-mediated suppression of osteogenic differentiation and autophagy in human BMSCs. GAL augments PKA/CREB-mediated autophagic flux in BMSCs and the bones of osteoporotic mice. GAL-mediated osteogenic differentiation in Dex-treated BMSCs is significantly decreased by the PKA inhibitor H89 and autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine. Collectively, our data indicate that GAL can ameliorate GIOP, partly by augmenting the mineralization of BMSCs by potentiating PKA/CREB-mediated autophagic flux, highlighting its potential therapeutic use in treating glucocorticoid-related osteoporosis.

Feline umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells: isolation, identification, and antioxidative stress role through NF-κB signaling pathway

At present, the differentiation potential and antioxidant activity of feline umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) have not been clearly studied. In this study, feline UC-MSCs were isolated by tissue adhesion method, identified by flow cytometry detection of cell surface markers (CD44, CD90, CD34, and CD45), and induced differentiation toward osteogenesis and adipogenesis in vitro. Furthermore, the oxidative stress model was established with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) (100 μM, 300 μM, 500 μM, 700 μM, and 900 μM). The antioxidant properties of feline UC-MSCs and feline fibroblasts were compared by morphological observation, ROS detection, cell viability via CCK-8 assay, as well as oxidative and antioxidative parameters via ELISA. The mRNA expression of genes related to NF-κB pathway was detected via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, while the levels of NF-κB signaling cascade-related proteins were determined via Western Blot. The results showed that feline UC-MSCs highly expressed CD44 and CD90, while negative for CD34 and CD45 expression. Feline UC-MSCs cultured under osteogenic and adipogenic conditions showed good differentiation capacity. After being exposed to different concentrations of H₂O₂ for eight hours, feline UC-MSCs exhibited the significantly higher survival rate than feline fibroblasts. A certain concentration of H₂O₂ could up-regulate the activities of SOD2 and GSH-Px in feline UC-MSCs. The expression levels of p50, MnSOD, and FHC mRNA in feline UC-MSCs stimulated by 300 μM and 500 μM H₂O₂ significantly increased compared with the control group. Furthermore, it was observed that 500 μM H₂O₂ significantly enhanced the protein levels of p-IκB, IκB, p-p50, p50, MnSOD, and FHC, which could be reversed by BAY 11-7,082, a NF-κB signaling pathway inhibitor. In conclusion, it was confirmed that feline UC-MSCs, with good osteogenesis and adipogenesis abilities, had better antioxidant property which might be related to NF-κB signaling pathway. This study lays a foundation for the further application of feline UC-MSCs in treating the various inflammatory and oxidative injury diseases of pets.

TPPU inhibits inflammation-induced excessive autophagy to restore the osteogenic differentiation potential of stem cells and improves alveolar ridge preservation

Inflammation-induced autophagy is a double-edged sword. Dysfunction of autophagy impairs the differentiation capacity of mesenchymal stem cells and enhances inflammation-induced bone loss. Tooth extraction with periodontal and/or endodontic lesions exacerbates horizontal and vertical resorption of alveolar bone during the healing period. Alveolar socket preservation (ASP) procedure following tooth extraction has important clinical implications for future prosthodontic treatments. Studies have shown that epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) have significant anti-inflammatory effects and participate in autophagy. However, whether EETs can minimize alveolar bone resorption and contribute to ASP by regulating autophagy levels under inflammatory conditions remain elusive. Here, we figured out that LPS-induced inflammatory conditions increased the inflammatory cytokine and inhibited osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs), and led to excessive autophagy of hDPSCs. Moreover, we identified that increased EETs levels using TPPU, a soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor, reversed these negative outcomes. We further demonstrated the potential of TPPU to promote early healing of extraction sockets and ASP, and speculated that it was related to autophagy. Taken together, these results suggest that targeting inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase using TPPU plays a protective role in the differentiation and autophagy of mesenchymal stem cells and provides potential feasibility for applying TPPU for ASP, especially under inflammatory conditions.

Autophagy Is a Crucial Path in Chondrogenesis of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Laden in Hydrogel

Autophagy is a cellular process that contributes to the maintenance of cell homeostasis through the activation of a specific path, by providing the necessary factors in stressful and physiological situations. Autophagy plays a specific role in chondrocyte differentiation; therefore, we aimed to analyze this process in adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) laden in three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel. We analyzed chondrogenic and autophagic markers using molecular biology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. We demonstrated that ASCs embedded in 3D hydrogel showed an increase expression of typical autophagic markers Beclin 1, LC3, and p62, associated with clear evidence of autophagic vacuoles in the cytoplasm. During ASCs chondrogenic differentiation, we showed that autophagic markers declined their expression and autophagic vesicles were rare, while typical chondrogenic markers collagen type 2, and aggrecan were significantly increased. In line with developmental animal models of cartilage, our data showed that in a 3D hydrogel, ASCs increased their autophagic features. This path is the fundamental prerequisite for the initial phase of differentiation that contributes to fueling the cells with energy and factors necessary for chondrogenic differentiation.

Identification and validation of autophagy-related genes during osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

OBJECTIVES

Osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is an essential stage in bone formation. Autophagy plays a pivotal role in the self-renewal potential and pluripotency of stem cells. This study aimed to explore the function of autophagy-related genes during osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The differentially expressed autophagy-related genes (ARGs) were obtained from the GEO and HADb databases. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using R software. The PPI and hub gene mining networks were constructed using the STRING database and Cytoscape. Finally, the RT-qPCR was conducted to validate the expression level of ARGs in BMSCs.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven differentially expressed ARGs were finally obtained, including 12 upregulated and 25 downregulated genes. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that most of these genes were enriched in apoptosis and autophagy. The PPI network revealed strong interactions between differentially expressed ARGs. The expression level of differentially expressed ARGs tested by RT-qPCR showed 6 upregulated ARGs, including FOXO1, MAP1LC3C, CTSB, FOXO3, CALCOCO2, FKBP1A, and 4 downregulated ARGs, including MAPK8IP1, NRG1, VEGFA, and ITGA6 were consistent with the expression of high-throughput sequencing data.

CONCLUSION

We identified 37 ARGs during osteogenic differentiation using bioinformatics analysis. FOXO1, MAP1LC3C, CTSB, FOXO3, CALCOCO2, FKBP1A, MAPK8IP1, NRG1, VEGFA, and ITGA6 may regulate osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs by involving autophagy pathway. This study provides new insight into the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs and may be available in developing therapeutic strategies for maxillofacial bone defects.

Knockdown of circHIPK3 promotes the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through activating the autophagy flux

Many circular RNAs (circRNAs) involved in the osteogenesis of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) have recently been discovered. The role of circHIPK3 in osteogenesis has yet to be determined. Cell transfection was conducted using small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Expression of osteogenic markers were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting analysis, and immunofluorescence staining. Ectopic bone formation models in nude mice were used to examined the bone formation ability in vivo. The autophagy flux was examined via western blotting analysis, immunofluorescence staining and transmission electron microscopy analysis. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) analysis was carried out to analyze the binding between human antigen R (HUR) and circHIPK3 or autophagy-related 16-like 1 (ATG16L1). Actinomycin D was used to determine the mRNA stability. Our results demonstrated that silencing circHIPK3 promoted the osteogenesis of hBMSCs while silencing the linear mHIPK3 did not affect osteogenic differentiation, both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, we found that knockdown of circHIPK3 activated autophagy flux. Activation of autophagy enhanced the osteogenesis of hBMSCs and inhibition of autophagy reduced the osteogenesis through using autophagy regulators chloroquine and rapamycin. We also discovered that circHIPK3 and ATG16L1 both bound to HUR. Knockdown of circHIPK3 released the binding sites of HUR to ATG16L1, which stabilized the mRNA expression of ATG16L1, resulting in the upregulation of ATG16L1 and autophagy activation. CircHIPK3 functions as an osteogenesis and autophagy regulator and has the potential for clinical application in the future.

Targeted Therapy for Inflammatory Diseases with Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Derived Exosomes: From Basic to Clinics

Inflammation is a beneficial and physiological process, but there are a number of inflammatory diseases which have detrimental effects on the body. In addition, the drugs used to treat inflammation have toxic side effects when used over a long period of time. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent stem cells that can be isolated from a variety of tissues and can be differentiate into diverse cell types under appropriate conditions. They also exhibit noteworthy anti-inflammatory properties, providing new options for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The therapeutic potential of MSCs is currently being investigated for various inflammatory diseases, such as kidney injury, lung injury, osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). MSCs can perform multiple functions, including immunomodulation, homing, and differentiation, to enable damaged tissues to form a balanced inflammatory and regenerative microenvironment under severe inflammatory conditions. In addition, accumulated evidence indicates that exosomes from extracellular vesicles of MSCs (MSC-Exos) play an extraordinary role, mainly by transferring their components to recipient cells. In this review, we summarize the mechanism and clinical trials of MSCs and MSC-Exos in various inflammatory diseases in detail, with a view to contributing to the treatment of MSCs and MSC-Exos in inflammatory diseases.

Identification of small molecules as novel anti-adipogenic compounds based on Connectivity Map

Several physiological and pathological conditions such as aging, obesity, diabetes, anorexia nervosa are associated with increased adipogenesis in the bone marrow. A lack of effective drugs hinder the improved treatment for aberrant accumulation of bone marrow adipocytes. Given the higher costs, longer duration and sometimes lack of efficacy in drug discovery, computational and experimental strategies have been used to identify previously approved drugs for the treatment of diseases, also known as drug repurposing. Here, we describe the method of small molecule-prioritization by employing adipocyte-specific genes using the connectivity map (CMap). We then generated transcriptomic profiles using human mesenchymal stromal cells under adipogenic differentiation with the treatment of prioritized compounds, and identified emetine and kinetin-riboside to have a potent inhibitory effect on adipogenesis. Overall, we demonstrated a proof-of-concept method to identify repurposable drugs capable of inhibiting adipogenesis, using the Connectivity Map.