title: Human umbilical mesenchymal stem cell and its adipogenic differentiation: Profiling by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the metabolic profile of human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSC) and adipogenic differentiation by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  HUMSC isolated from human umbilical cord stroma were induced to adipocytes over 2 wk by adding dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, indomethacin, and insulin to the culture medium. Adipogenic differentiation was confirmed by Red O staining and transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Perchloric acid extracts of the HUMSCs and adipocytes (about 7 × 10(6)) were characterized for metabolites by using in vitro high resolution 9.4T NMR spectroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several major metabolites, such as: choline, creatine, glutamate and myo-inositol, acetate, and some fatty acids/triglycerides, were observed in the MR spectroscopic pattern of HUMSCs and their adipogenic differentiation. HUMSCs are characterized by an unusually low number of NMR-detectable metabolites, high choline, acetate, glutamate and creatine content. However, the metabolic profiles of adipogenic differentiation demonstrated considerably higher methionine and fatty acids, and non-detectable creatine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The biomarkers of HUMSCS and adipocytes were obtained and assigned. NMR spectroscopy will be a promising tool for monitoring stem cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Zhi-Feng Xu, Yao-Wen Chen, Ren-Hua Wu, Department of Medical Imaging, the 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ai-Zhen
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Chong-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Yao-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ren-Hua
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wu