Rat mesenchymal stem cells increase tyrosine hydroxylase expression and dopamine content in ventral mesencephalic cells in vitro.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent adult stem cells. It has been shown that MSCs secrete neurotrophic factors involving nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Also, these neurotrophic factors can upregulate tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene expression in PC12 cells and neural stem cells. Here, we investigated the effect of co-culturing rat E13.5 ventral mesencephalic cells (VMCs) with MSCs from rat bone marrow on TH expression and dopamine (DA) content. The study consisted of 3 groups: MSC, VMC and a combined MSC+VMC group. All groups were cultured in serum-free neuro-basal medium for 3 days. Thereafter, each group was analyzed by RT-PCR, western blotting, and HPLC. The co-culture group showed a higher expression at TH and DA than the VMC group. However, TH and DA were not present in the MSC group. These observations suggest that MSCs could be an alternative source for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD).
Jin
Guang-Zhen
GZ
Division of Applied Life Science BK21, Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Graduate School of Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, GyeongNam Province, South Korea.
Cho
Su-Jin
SJ
Choi
Eu-Gene
EG
Lee
Young-S
YS
Yu
Xian-Feng
XF
Choi
Kap-Seong
KS
Yee
Sung-Tae
ST
Jeon
Jin-Tae
JT
Kim
Myeong-Ok
MO
Kong
Il-Keun
IK
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine