title: Chitosan-based hydrogels to induce neuronal differentiation of rat muscle-derived stem cells.
abstract: In this study, we used a chitosan hydrogel as a 3-dimensional substrate for the attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of rat muscle-derived stem cells (rMDSCs) in the presence of valproic acid (VA). Chitosan solutions containing glycerol phosphate disodium salt form a hydrogel at body temperature. The chitosan hydrogel exhibited a porous 3-dimensional network that allowed the culture medium to penetrate. The chitosan hydrogel acted as a suitable biocompatible substrate for the attachment and proliferation of rMDSCs. On chitosan hydrogel in the presence of VA, rMDSCs exhibited higher expression of the neural markers, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and beta tubulin III (Tuj-1), the oligodendrocyte marker, oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (Olig-2), and the astrocyte marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) than those in the absence of VA. Our results suggest that rMDSCs on a chitosan hydrogel in the presence of VA can differentiate into cells with a neural-like phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 443-759, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Seon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Gyeong Hae
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Da Yeon
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: So Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Hyo Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byoung Hyun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Moon Suk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D014635:Valproic Acid; D048271:Chitosan; D005990:Glycerol