title: In vitro differentiation of cultured human CD34+ cells into astrocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Astrocytes are abundantly present as glial cells in the brain and play an important role in the regenerative processes. The possible role of stem cell derived astrocytes in the spinal cord injuries is possible related to their influence at the synaptic junctions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study is focused on in vitro differentiation of cultured human CD34+ cells into astrocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor mobilized human CD34+ cells were isolated from peripheral blood using apheresis method from a donor. These cells were further purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and cultured in Dulbecco's modified eagle's medium. Thus, cultured cells were induced with astrocyte defined medium (ADM) and in the differentiated astrocytes serine/threonine protein kinases (STPK) and glutamine synthetase (GLUL) activities were estimated. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and GLUL were confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cultured human CD34+ cells differentiated into astrocytes after 11 h of incubation in ADM. The RT-PCR experiment showed the expression of GLUL (1.5 kb) and GFAP (2.9 kb) in differentiated astrocytes. The high enzyme activities of GLUL and STPK in differentiated astrocytes compared with cultured human CD34+ cells confirmed astrocyte formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, in vitro differentiation of stem cells with retinoic acid induction may result in the formation of astrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Katari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venkatesh
authors.forename: Lokanathan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Srikanth
authors.forename: Bhuma
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vengamma
authors.forename: Chodimella
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chandrasekhar
authors.forename: Akula
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanjeevkumar
authors.forename: Bodapati Chandra
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Mouleshwara Prasad
authors.forename: Potukuchi Venkata Gurunadha Krishna
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Sarma
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D014212:Tretinoin; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase