title: Generation of inner ear sensory cells from bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder in humans, its main cause being the loss of cochlear hair cells. We studied the potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to differentiate towards hair cells and auditory neurons.
  
  
  METHODS
  hMSCs were first differentiated to neural progenitors and subsequently to hair cell- or auditory neuron-like cells using in vitro culture methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differentiation of hMSCs to an intermediate neural progenitor stage was critical for obtaining inner ear sensory lineages. hMSCs generated hair cell-like cells only when neural progenitors derived from nonadherent hMSC cultures grown in serum-free medium were exposed to EGF and retinoic acid. Auditory neuron-like cells were obtained when treated with retinoic acid, and in the presence of defined growth factor combinations containing Sonic Hedgehog.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show the potential of hMSCs to give rise to inner ear sensory cells.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Sanz y Forés 3, E-47003, Valladolid, Spain. mbduran@ibgm.uva.es
authors.forename: M Beatriz
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Durán Alonso
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feijoo-Redondo
authors.forename: Magnolia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conde de Felipe
authors.forename: Estela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carnicero
authors.forename: Ana Sánchez
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Sancho
authors.forename: Marcelo N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Rivolta
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giráldez
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schimmang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells; D058953:Neural Stem Cells; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; C509239:SHH protein, human; D014212:Tretinoin; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor