Effect of hypoxia on porphyrin metabolism in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Under hypoxic conditions, aminolevulinic acid-induced accumulation of porphyrin pigments and increase in heme content was observed in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The expression of transferrin receptor CD71 responsible for Fe(2+) transport into the cell was also enhanced. Blockade of porphyrin-transporting protein ABCG2 with fumitremorgin C under conditions of normoxia and hypoxia induced accumulation of porphyrin pigments; in hypoxia, these changes were more pronounced.