Oncostatin M (OSM)
Quick Facts
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Oncostatin M |
| Abbreviation | OSM |
| Molecule Type | Recombinant Cytokine |
| Family | Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Cytokine Family |
| Molecular Weight | ~26-28 kDa (glycosylation dependent) |
| Primary Receptors | OSMR/gp130 and LIFR/gp130 receptor complexes |
| Typical Working Concentration | 10-100 ng/mL |
| Common Stock Concentration | 10-100 μg/mL |
Overview
Oncostatin M (OSM) is a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to the IL-6 family that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, and tissue remodeling. Although initially identified for its ability to inhibit the growth of certain tumor cell lines, OSM is now recognized as an important regulator of liver development, stem cell differentiation, epithelial biology, and tissue regeneration.
In cell culture, OSM is most widely used to promote the maturation of hepatocytes, particularly during differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells. It also plays important roles in epithelial, mesenchymal, and immune cell biology.
Biological Function
Oncostatin M regulates numerous cellular processes, including:
- Promotes hepatocyte maturation
- Supports epithelial differentiation
- Regulates stem cell differentiation
- Modulates inflammatory responses
- Stimulates tissue remodeling
- Enhances liver-specific gene expression
- Supports tissue regeneration
Mechanism of Action
OSM binds to receptor complexes composed of gp130 paired with either the Oncostatin M receptor (OSMR) or the Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor (LIFR).
Receptor activation stimulates multiple intracellular signaling pathways, including:
- JAK-STAT pathway
- MAPK/ERK pathway
- PI3K-AKT pathway
- SRC family kinase pathways
These pathways regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, survival, and tissue-specific gene expression.
Common Applications
Oncostatin M is widely used for:
- Hepatocyte differentiation
- iPSC-derived hepatocyte maturation
- Liver organoid culture
- Liver disease modeling
- Stem cell differentiation
- Tissue engineering
- Regenerative medicine
- Cytokine signaling research
Cell Types Commonly Supplemented with Oncostatin M
| Cell Type | Typical Application |
|---|---|
| Primary Hepatocytes | Functional maintenance |
| iPSC-Derived Hepatocytes | Maturation |
| Human ESC-Derived Hepatocytes | Differentiation |
| Liver Organoids | Hepatic maturation |
| Hepatic Progenitor Cells | Differentiation |
| Cholangiocyte Cultures | Selected differentiation protocols |
| Mesenchymal Stem Cells | Differentiation studies |
OSM is frequently added during the final stages of hepatic differentiation to promote acquisition of mature liver functions.
Typical Working Concentrations
| Application | Typical Concentration |
|---|---|
| Hepatocyte Differentiation | 10-20 ng/mL |
| iPSC-Derived Hepatocyte Maturation | 10-20 ng/mL |
| Liver Organoid Culture | 10-20 ng/mL |
| Liver Disease Models | 10-50 ng/mL |
Advantages
- Promotes hepatocyte maturation
- Enhances liver-specific functions
- Supports serum-free differentiation protocols
- Well characterized in hepatic differentiation systems
- Frequently used in regenerative medicine research
- Compatible with defined culture media
Limitations
- Activity depends on receptor expression
- Not required for most routine mammalian cell cultures
- Sensitive to repeated freeze-thaw cycles
- Usually used alongside other growth factors during differentiation
- Biological effects vary among different cell types
Related Growth Factors
Frequently combined with:
- Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF)
- Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)
- Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF-2)
- Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium (ITS)
- Dexamethasone
- GlutaMAX
- Williams' E Medium
See Also
- Hepatocyte Differentiation
- Liver Organoid Culture
- iPSC Differentiation
- Williams' E Medium
- Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF)
- Growth Factor Handling and Storage Guide
Key Takeaways
- Oncostatin M (OSM) is a member of the IL-6 cytokine family that regulates differentiation, regeneration, and tissue remodeling.
- It signals through OSMR/gp130 or LIFR/gp130 receptor complexes to activate JAK-STAT, MAPK/ERK, PI3K-AKT, and SRC signaling pathways.
- OSM is an essential component of many hepatocyte differentiation and maturation protocols, particularly for iPSC-derived hepatocytes and liver organoids.
- It is commonly combined with HGF, EGF, dexamethasone, ITS, and Williams' E Medium during hepatic maturation.
- Typical working concentrations range from 10-100 ng/mL, with 10-20 ng/mL most commonly used for hepatocyte maturation.
References
- Zarling JM et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (1986).
- Heinrich PC et al. Biochemical Journal (2003).
- Freshney RI. Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique and Specialized Applications.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific. Recombinant Human Oncostatin M Product Information.
- PeproTech. Recombinant Human Oncostatin M Product Datasheet.