title: Differentiation of human fetal mesenchymal stem cells into cells with an oligodendrocyte phenotype.
abstract: The potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to differentiate into neural lineages has raised the possibility of autologous cell transplantation as a therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. We have identified a population of circulating human fetal mesenchymal stem cells (hfMSC) that are highly proliferative and can readily differentiate into mesodermal lineages such as bone, cartilage, fat and muscle. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that primary hfMSC can differentiate into cells with an oligodendrocyte phenotype both in vitro and in vivo. By exposing hfMSC to neuronal conditioned medium or by introducing the pro-oligodendrocyte gene, Olig-2, hfMSC adopted an oligodendrocyte-like morphology, expressed oligodendrocyte markers and appeared to mature appropriately in culture. Importantly we also demonstrate the differentiation of a clonal population of hfMSC into both mesodermal (bone) and ectodermal (oligodendrocyte) lineages. In the developing murine brain transplanted hfMSC integrated into the parenchyma but oligodendrocyte differentiation of these naïve hfMSC was very low. However, the proportion of cells expressing oligodendrocyte markers increased significantly (from 0.2% to 4%) by preexposing the cells to differentiation medium in vitro prior to transplantation. Importantly, the process of in vivo differentiation occurred without cell fusion. These findings suggest that hfMSC may provide a potential source of oligodendrocytes for study and potential therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nigel L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Kennea
authors.forename: Simon N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Waddington
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Keelin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Donoghue
authors.forename: Davy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Deanna L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Faisal A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Al-Allaf
authors.forename: Grisha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pirianov
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Themis
authors.forename: A David
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Nicholas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Fisk
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mehmet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D000090322:Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.2; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D000076104:Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D000090322:Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.2; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000076104:Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C405707:OLIG1 protein, human; C405708:OLIG2 protein, human