title: Schwann cells induce neuronal differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells.
abstract: Bone marrow stromal cells are multipotent stem cells that have the potential to differentiate into bone, cartilage, fat and muscle. Recently, bone marrow stromal cells have been shown to have the capacity to differentiate into neurons under specific experimental conditions, using chemical factors. We now describe how bone marrow stromal cells can be induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells when they are co-cultured with Schwann cells. When compared with chemical differentiation, expression of neuronal differentiation markers begins later, but one week after beginning co-culture, most bone marrow stromal cells showed a typical neuronal morphology. Our present findings support the transdifferentiation of bone marrow stromal cells, and the potential utility of these cells for the treatment of degenerative and acquired disorders of the nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Unit of the Mapfre-Medicine Foundation, Puerta de Hierro Hospital, Autonomous University, San Martin de Porres, 4, 28035 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zurita
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vaquero
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oya
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miguel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D064231:Nestin; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; C051774:neurofilament protein H; D008623:Mercaptoethanol