title: Adipose tissue-derived stromal cells express neuronal phenotypes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) can be greatly expanded in vitro, and induced to differentiate into multiple mesenchymal cell types, including osteogenic, chondrogenic, myogenic, and adipogenic cells. This study was designed to investigate the possibility of ADSCs differentiating into neurons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adipose tissue from rats was digested with collagenase, and adherent stromal cells were cultured. A medium containing a low concentration of fetal bovine serum was adopted to induce the cells to differentiate. ADSCs were identified by immunocytochemistry, and semi-quantitative RT-PCR was applied to detect mRNA expression of neurofilament 1 (NF1), nestin, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nestin-positive cells were found occasionally among ADSCs. ADSCs were found to express NSE mRNA and nestin mRNA, but not NF1 mRNA. ADSCs could differentiate into neuron-like cells in a medium composed of a low concentration of fetal bovine serum, and these differentiated cells displayed complicated neuron-like morphologies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data support the hypothesis that adipose tissue contains stem cells capable of differentiating into neurons. These stem cells can overcome their mesenchymal commitment, and may represent an alternative autologous stem cell source for CNS cell transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Suzhou University, Suzhou 215006, China. yangleeyee@sina.com
authors.forename: Li-ye
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiang-ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Guo-zhen
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: Li-he
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase