title: GD2 expression is closely associated with neuronal differentiation of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: GD2 ganglioside has been identified as a key determinant of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). Here, we characterized GD2 ganglioside expression and its implications in umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (UCB-MSCs). Using immune-selection analysis, we showed that both GD2-positive and GD2-negative UCB-MSCs expressed general stem cell markers and possessed mesodermal lineage differentiation potential. Although the fraction of GD2-expressing cells was lower in UCB-MSC than in BM-MSC populations, inhibition of GD2 synthesis in UCB-MSCs suppressed neuronal differentiation and down-regulated basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors, which are involved in early stage neuronal differentiation. In addition, the levels of bHLH factors in neuronally induced UCB-MSCs were significantly higher in GD2-positive than GD2-negative cells. Our data demonstrate that GD2 ganglioside expression is associated with regulation of bHLH factors and identify neurogenic-capable UCB-MSCs, providing new insights into the potential clinical applications of MSC-based therapy.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute, Medipost Co., Ltd, 1571-17 Seocho-3 dong, Seocho-Gu, Seoul, 136-736, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Hae Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Yun Kyong
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Soo Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: I Rang
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Wonil
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Yoon Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Soo Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seong Who
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D036101:Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017350:N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D005732:Gangliosides; D017350:N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C019403:ganglioside, GD2; C023220:(N-acetylneuraminyl)-galactosylglucosylceramide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase