Selection and Validation of Reference Genes for Gene Expression Studies in an Equine Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation Model by Proteome Analysis and Reverse-Transcriptase Quantitative Real-Time PCR.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are used in tissue regeneration therapies. The objective of this study is to identify stable reference genes (RGs) for use in gene expression studies in a characterized equine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (EADMSC) differentiation model. ADSCs were differentiated into adipocytes (ADs) or osteoblasts (OBs), and the proteomes from these cells were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Proteins that were stably expressed in all three cells types were identified, and the mRNA expression stabilities for their corresponding genes were validated by RT-qPCR. , , and then either or demonstrated the most stable mRNA levels. Normalizing target gene C data with at least three of these RGs simultaneously, as per MIQE guidelines ( and with either or ), resulted in congruent conclusions. expression was increased in ADs (5.99 and 8.00 fold, = 0.00002 and = 0.0003) and in OBs (5.18 and 5.91 fold, = 0.0011 and = 0.0023) relative to ADSCs. expression was slightly higher in ADs relative to ADSCs (1.97 and 2.65 fold, = 0.04 and = 0.01), but not in OBs (0.9 and 1.03 fold, = 0.58 and = 0.91).