Differentiation of human bone marrow stem cells into cells with a neural phenotype: diverse effects of two specific treatments.
BACKGROUND
It has recently been demonstrated that the fate of adult cells is not restricted to their tissues of origin. In particular, it has been shown that bone marrow stem cells can give rise to cells of different tissues, including neural cells, hepatocytes and myocytes, expanding their differentiation potential.


RESULTS
In order to identify factors able to lead differentiation of stem cells towards cells of neural lineage, we isolated stromal cells from human adult bone marrow (BMSC). Cells were treated with: (1) TPA, forskolin, IBMX, FGF-1 or (2) retinoic acid and 2-mercaptoethanol (BME). Treatment (1) induced differentiation into neuron-like cells within 24 hours, while a longer treatment was required when using retinoic acid and BME. Morphological modifications were more dramatic after treatment (1) compared with treatment (2). In BMSC both treatments induced the expression of neural markers such as NF, GFAP, TUJ-1 and neuron-specific enolase. Moreover, the transcription factor Hes1 increased after both treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study may contribute towards the identification of mechanisms involved in the differentiation of stem cells towards cells of neural lineage.
Department of Cytomorphology, University of Cagliari, Italy. fscintu@unica.it
Franca
F
Scintu
Camilla
C
Reali
Rita
R
Pillai
Manuela
M
Badiali
Maria Adele
MA
Sanna
Francesca
F
Argiolu
Maria Serafina
MS
Ristaldi
Valeria
V
Sogos
D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D064231:Nestin; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010641:Phenotype; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1; D005576:Colforsin; D014212:Tretinoin; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine