title: BDNF expression is up-regulated by progesterone in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether promotion of neuronal differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) by progesterone (PROG) involves changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used rat brain tissue extracts to mimic the brain microenvironment. Quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure levels of BDNF in cultured medium with or without PROG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Progesterone increased levels of BDNF in HUMSCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Progesterone enhancement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels may be involved in PROG activated-pathways to promote neuronal differentiation of HUMSCs.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University , Shijiazhuang , China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University , Shijiazhuang , China.
authors.forename: Xianying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacy , Bethune International Peace Hospital of Chinese PLA , Shijiazhuang , China.
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacy , Bethune International Peace Hospital of Chinese PLA , Shijiazhuang , China.
authors.forename: Gai
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D011374:Progesterone
keywords: BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Brain tissue extracts; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; FBS, fetal bovine serum; HUMSCs, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells; Mesenchymal stem cells; PROG, progesterone; Progesterone