title: Rho-associated coiled kinase inhibitor Y-27632 promotes neuronal-like differentiation of adult human adipose tissue-derived stem cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Y-27632 is a specific inhibitor of Rho-associated coiled kinase (ROCK) and has been shown to promote the survival and induce the differentiation of a variety of cells types. However, the effects of Y-27632 on adult human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Y-27632 on the neuronal-like differentiation of ADSCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  ADSCs were isolated from women undergoing plastic surgery and cultured. ADSCs were treated with different doses of Y-27632 and observed morphological changes under microscope. The expression of nestin, neuron specific enolase (NSE) and microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) in ADSCs treated with Y-27632 was detected by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Y-27632 had the potency to induce neuronal-like differentiation in ADSCs in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the differentiation induced by Y-27632 was recovered upon drug withdraw. ADSCs treated with Y-27632 expressed neuronal markers such as NSE, MAP-2 and nestin while untreated ADSCs did not express these markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selective ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 could potentiate the neuronal-like differentiation of ADSCs, suggesting that Y-27632 could be utilized to induce the differentiation of ADSCs to neurons and facilitate the clinical application of ADSCs in tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-wen
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Xiao-ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Song-hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Tian-wei
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Chao-hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D000328:Adult; D000577:Amides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D011725:Pyridines; C108830:Y 27632