title: [Induced differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells into Leydig cells in vitro].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the feasibility of inducing the differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) into Leydig cells in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  We isolated ADSCs by digestion with Collagenase I from the subcutaneous adipose tissue, cultured them in the DMEM/F12 medium with 10% fetal bovine serum, and detected the expression of vimentin by immunohistochemistry. We exposed the ADSCs to different concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) for different times, determined the expression of StAR mRNA by real-time PCR, and measured the HCG-induced proliferation of ADSCs by MTT. After a week of induction by HCG and DMSO, we conducted 3beta-HSD immunohistochemistry, and detected the testosterone level in the supernatant and lysis of the cells by radioimmunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ADSCs grew well with a positive expression of vimentin. The expression of the StAR gene was positively correlated with the increased concentration of HCG, reaching the peak at HCG 10 U/ml in 1 week culture. The proliferation of ADSCs was significantly increased by HCG induction. A positive expression of 3beta-HSD was observed after 1 week induction with HCG 10 U/ml and DMSO 3.2 x 10(-6)mol/L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCG enhances the expression of the StAR gene and the proliferation of ADSCs. Induced by HCG 10 U/ml and DMSO 3.2 x 10(-6) mol/L, ADSCs tend to differentiate into Leydig cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Yun
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Lu-Gang
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin