title: Evaluation of neurogenic potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal cells; a time- and concentration-dependent manner.
abstract: Retinoic acid as one of the most important regulators for cell differentiation was examined in this study for differentiation of human umbilical mesenchymal cells (hUCM).
  
  
  
  After isolation, hUCM were evaluated for mesenchymal stem cell properties by flow cytometry and alkaline phosphatase assay. Also, doubling time of the cells and their differentiation potential into adipogenic and osteogenic cells were tested. hUCM were then cultured with different concentrations of retinoic acid, and on days 1, 7, and 12, the percentage of differentiated cells was determined by immunostaining for nestin, anti-microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP₂), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) markers.
  
  
  
  The isolated cells were negative for the hematopoietic markers and positive for the mesenchymal markers. They showed the population doubling time 60 ± 3 hours and differentiated into osteogenic and adipogenic cells. A descending trend in nestin and an ascending trend in MAP₂, GAD, and GABA expression were observed from the first day until the last day between different concentrations of retinoic acid.
  
  
  
  hUCM cells may have the potential to differentiate into neural cells in the presence of different incubation period and concentration of retinoic acid.
authors: Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Seyed Hassan
authors: SH
authors: Eftekhar-Vaghefi
authors: Dept. of Anatomy, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman , Iran.
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: Zahmatkesh
authors: Dept. of Anatomy, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman , Iran.
authors: Parvin
authors: P
authors: Salehinejad
authors: School of Medicine, 
  Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors: Shahin
authors: S
authors: Totonchi
authors: Dept. of Anatomy, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman , Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Shams-Ara
mesh_terms: D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D064231:Nestin / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C489788:MAP2 protein, human; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D014212:Tretinoin; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase
keywords: Cell differentiation; Neural stem cells; Retinoic acid