[Effects of Ciwujia in inducing marrow stromal cell differentiation into neuron-like cells in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of the traditional Chinese herbal drug Ciwujia in inducing the differentiation of marrow stromal cells (MSCs) into neuron-like cells.


METHODS
Rat MSCs isolated from the whole bone marrow were amplified by adherent culture in vitro and induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells using serum-free DMEM/F12 containing Ciwujia. The protein and mRNA expressions of nestin, beta-Tubulin III and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the differentiated cells were detected by indirect immunofluorescence method, Western blotting and RT-PCR.


RESULTS
The third-passage MSCs showed positive expression rates for CD44 and CD54 beyond 90% with decreased CD14 expression rate to 2.37%. Induction by Ciwujia of the MSCs resulted in cell body shrinkage and protrusion of the cell processes resembling those of neurons. The differentiated cells were positive for nestin and beta-Tubulin III expression and negative for GFAP as shown by immunofluorescence assay, Western blotting and RT-PCR.


CONCLUSIONS
Ciwujia can induce the differentiation of rat MSCs into neuron-like cells in vitro.
Yang
Qin
Q
Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Neurology of Chongqing, First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. xyqh200@126.com
Yang
Jun
J
Xie
Peng
P
Zeng
Zhi-Lei
ZL
Li
Ao
A
Yang
Jun
J
Zhang
Xiao-Dong
XD
Li
Yong-Mei
YM
Lü
Fa-Jin
FJ
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D028001:Eleutherococcus; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D064231:Nestin; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014404:Tubulin; C404523:ciwujia extract