Heterogeneity of baseline neural marker expression by undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells may be correlated to donor age.
Previous studies reported much heterogeneity in baseline neural marker expression by undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of animal and human origin, which could confound reproducibility of neural differentiation experiments with MSCs. Nevertheless, basic donor characteristics such as age and gender were unspecified in these previous studies; and relative levels of baseline neural marker expression amongst primary MSCs of different tissue and donor origin have not been compared by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis, which is the focus of this study. The results showed that amongst a mixed group of primary adipose and bone marrow-derived MSCs (12-50 years), the observed variability in baseline neural marker expression may be correlated to donor age. Adipose-derived MSCs from the youngest donor (male, 12 years old) displayed the highest expression of all four early neural markers (Pax6, Nestin, Musashi 1 and βIII-tubulin), and three out of four mature neural markers (NCAM, NSE and NFM) analyzed by qRT-PCR. Conversely, adipose MSCs of the oldest donor (female, 50 years old) displayed the lowest expression of three out of four early neural markers (Pax6, Musashi 1 and βIII-tubulin), and three out of four mature neural markers (MAP2, NCAM and NSE) analyzed by qRT-PCR.
Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland.
Boon Chin
BC
Heng
Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland.
Pratik
P
Saxena
Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: fussenegger@bsse.ethz.ch.
Martin
M
Fussenegger
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D015415:Biomarkers; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; C000605730:PAX6 protein, human; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins
Adipose; Bone marrow; Mesenchymal; Neural markers; Stem cells