title: Altered expression of microRNAs in the neuronal differentiation of human Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capacity to generate multiple tissues of mesodermal origin, and also have the potential to trans-differentiate into neurons. We isolated MSCs from the Wharton's jelly of the human umbilical cord (WJ-MSCs), and efficiently induced WJ-MSCs into neuron-like cells using a modified method. After neuronal induction for 12 days, most of WJ-MSCs expressed mature neuronal marker MAP2 (83 ± 7%), and meanwhile some adopted neuronal morphology. WJ-MSCs also expressed Nestin (34 ± 6%), NSE (30 ± 5%), and GFAP (12 ± 3%). Moreover, we used miRNA microarray to analyze the differentially expressed miRNAs in neuronal differentiation of WJ-MSCs. Microarray analysis revealed discrepant miRNA profiles in the uninduced WJ-MSCs and WJ-MSCs derived neurons. Six miRNAs were chosen for further qRT-PCR validation. Among these 6 miRNAs, four miRNAs (miR-1290, miR-26b, miR-194, and miR-124a) were up-regulated and 2 miRNAs (miR-4521 and miR-543) were down-regulated in the WJ-MSCs derived neurons. In conclusion, WJ-MSCs could be efficiently induced into neuron-like cells. More importantly, our findings suggested that miRNAs might play important roles in the neuronal differentiation of WJ-MSCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Eye and ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Eye and ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Shujie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qinmeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: drxugezhi@126.com.
authors.forename: Gezhi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D059631:Wharton Jelly / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: MicroRNA; Neuronal differentiation; Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cell