title: Turning placenta into brain: placental mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into neurons and oligodendrocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to induce neural stem (NSC) and progenitor cells (NPC) from human placental tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Placental stem cells from first-trimester placental chorionic villi and term chorion were isolated. Neural differentiation was initiated with plating on collagen, retinoic acid, and/or human brain-derived neurotrophic factor and epidermal and fibroblast growth factor. Differentiation into neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes was monitored by immunohistochemistry. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography, and tandem mass spectrometry were used to identify proteins involved in the differentiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differentiated cells were mostly immediately postmitotic with some more but not fully mature postmitotic neurons. Neurons had dopaminergic or serotonergic character. Some cells differentiated into predominantly immature oligodendrocytes. Upon differentiation, neuron-specific proteins were up-regulated, whereas placental proteins were reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stem cells derived from human placenta can be differentiated into neural progenitors.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Clinical Research, University Women's Hospital, Inselspital, Novartis, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C Bettina
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Portmann-Lanz
authors.forename: Andreina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schoeberlein
authors.forename: Reto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Portmann
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rollini
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sager
authors.forename: Daniel V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Surbek
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008938:Mitosis; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C102926:DPYSL3 protein, human; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D014404:Tubulin