title: Immunochemical, ultrastructural and electrophysiological investigations of bone-derived stem cells in the course of neuronal differentiation.
abstract: Numerous reports have highlighted the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for tissue engineering because of the capacity of the cells to differentiate along the osteogenic, chondrogenic or adipogenic pathway. As MSC also display neuronal morphologies under appropriate culture conditions, the differentiation capacity of stem cells seems to be more complex than initially thought, but it requires careful characterization of the cells. This is especially the case because recently it has been suggested that neuronal differentiation of stem cells is only an artifact. Here, we investigate the sequence of ultrastructural changes of bone-derived stem cells during neuronal induction and compare these data with immunocytochemical and electrophysiological properties of the cells. For further comparative analyses, stem cells were incubated with non-neurologically inducing stressors. The stem cells were harvested from human osseous debris and were characterized morphologically, immunocytochemically and by using FACS. After 6 h of neuronal induction, the cells had assumed neuronal morphologies and expressed neuron-specific enolase, beta-III-tubulin, neurofilament-H and HNK-1, while only a subpopulation expressed CD15 and synaptophysin. However, electrical signaling could not be detected, neither spontaneously nor after electrical stimulation. Nevertheless, transmission electron microscopy revealed cellular features of neuritogenesis and synaptogenesis in the course of neuronal induction and suggested that the cells have features similar to those observed in immature neurons. Based upon the results, it can be concluded that neuronal induction had initiated the early steps of neuronal differentiation, while exposure of the cells to non-neurological stressors had caused necrotic alterations.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Trauma Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University, Kerkrader Strasse 9, 35394 Giessen, Germany. sabine.wenisch@chiru.med.uni-giessen.de
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wenisch
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trinkaus
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hild
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hose
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heiss
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alt
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klisch
authors.forename: Hilmar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meissl
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schnettler
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D004566:Electrodes; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D010641:Phenotype; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned