title: Gangliosides are involved in neural differentiation of human dental pulp-derived stem cells.
abstract: Human dental pulp-derived stem cells (hDPSCs) have been considered alternative sources of adult stem cells because of their potential to differentiate into multiple cell lineages. This study investigated the possible role of gangliosides in the neural differentiation of hDPSCs. When hDPSCs were cultured under neural differentiation conditions, expression of neural cell marker genes such as Nestin, MAP-2, and NeuN was detected. Immunostaining and high-performance thin-layer chromatography analysis showed that an increase in ganglioside biosynthesis was associated with neural differentiation of hDPSCs. Specifically, a significant increase in GD3 and GD1a expression was observed during neural differentiation. To confirm the role of gangliosides in neural differentiation, ganglioside biosynthesis was inhibited in hDPSCs by knockdown of UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (Ugcg), which prevented differentiation into neural cells. These results suggest that gangliosides may play a role in the neural differentiation process of hDPSCs.
authors: Department of Biological Science, College of Natural Sciences, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jae-Sung
authors: JS
authors: Ryu
authors: Kinarm
authors: K
authors: Ko
authors: Jeong-Woong
authors: JW
authors: Lee
authors: Soo-Bong
authors: SB
authors: Park
authors: Sung June
authors: SJ
authors: Byun
authors: Eun-Jeong
authors: EJ
authors: Jeong
authors: Kisung
authors: K
authors: Ko
authors: Young-Kug
authors: YK
authors: Choo
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D055495:Neurogenesis; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005732:Gangliosides; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C023246:ceramide glucosyltransferase