title: Induction of mice adult bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into functional motor neuron-like cells.
abstract: The differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) into acetylcholine secreted motor neuron-like cells, followed by elongation of the cell axon, is a promising treatment for spinal cord injury and motor neuron cell dysfunction in mammals. Differentiation is induced through a pre-induction step using Beta- mercaptoethanol (BME) followed by four days of induction with retinoic acid and sonic hedgehog. This process results in a very efficient differentiation of BM-MSCs into motor neuron-like cells. Immunocytochemistry showed that these treated cells had specific motor neural markers: microtubule associated protein-2 and acetylcholine transferase. The ability of these cells to function as motor neuron cells was assessed by measuring acetylcholine levels in a culture media during differentiation. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the differentiated cells were functional. Motor neuron axon elongation was then induced by adding different concentrations of a nerve growth factor (NGF) to the differentiation media. Using a collagen matrix to mimic the natural condition of neural cells in a three-dimensional model showed that the MSCs were successfully differentiated into motor neuron-like cells. This process can efficiently differentiate MSCs into functional motor neurons that can be used for autologous nervous system therapy and especially for treating spinal cord injuries.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Therapy Department, Iraqi Center for Cancer and Medical Genetic Research, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq.
authors.forename: Rafal H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.affiliation: Experimental Therapy Department, Iraqi Center for Cancer and Medical Genetic Research, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq.
authors.forename: Nahi Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Yaseen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq.
authors.forename: Shahlaa M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Salih
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Department, Neuroscience Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq.
authors.forename: Ahmad Adnan
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Juboory
authors.affiliation: Experimental Therapy Department, Iraqi Center for Cancer and Medical Genetic Research, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq; Department of Biotechnology, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq; Neurosurgery Department, Neuroscience Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq.
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Experimental Therapy Department, Iraqi Center for Cancer and Medical Genetic Research, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq. Electronic address: ahmed.alshammari@iccmgr.org.
authors.forename: Ahmed Majeed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Shammari
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen; D003470:Culture Media; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D014212:Tretinoin; D003094:Collagen; D000109:Acetylcholine
keywords: Acetylcholine; Mesenchymal stem cell; Motor neuron