Neurogenic cells in human amniotic fluid.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether human amniotic fluid contains cells that harbor the potential to differentiate into neurogenic cells.


METHODS
Amniotic fluid cells (uncultivated or cultivated in standard or in neurogenic differentiation medium) were analyzed for morphologic neurogenic differentiation and for expression of cluster of differentiation 133 (marker for neuronal stem cells), nestin (neuronal progenitor cells), neurofilament (neurons), the p75 common neurotrophin receptor, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3 and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (oligodendrocytes).


RESULTS
The appearance of neurogenic cells was not detected in uncultivated cells, was sporadic after cultivation in standard medium but strongly increased in neurogenic differentiation medium, and was accompanied by the induction of the expression of the analyzed marker genes.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, this study provides evidence that human amniotic fluid contains cells that express markers for neuronal stem and progenitor cells, which harbor the potential to differentiate into neurogenic cells.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vienna, Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy, Vienna, Austria.
Andrea-Romana
AR
Prusa
Erika
E
Marton
Margit
M
Rosner
Dieter
D
Bettelheim
Gent
G
Lubec
Arnold
A
Pollack
Gerhard
G
Bernaschek
Markus
M
Hengstschläger
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D064231:Nestin; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D010455:Peptides