In vitro differentiation of cord blood unrestricted somatic stem cells expressing dopamine-associated genes into neuron-like cells

• Published in: Cell biology international Vol. 31; no. 3; pp. 299 - 303
• Main Authors: Fallahi-Sichani, Mohammad, Soleimani, Masoud, Najafi, Seyed Mahmoud Arab, Kiani, Jafar, Arefian, Ehsan, Atashi, Amir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2007; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Bone Marrow Cells - cytology; Bone Marrow Cells - metabolism; Cell Culture Techniques - methods; Cell Differentiation; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Cord blood; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; Dopamine - genetics; Dopamine-associated genes; Fetal Blood - cytology; Fetal Blood - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genetic Markers - genetics; Humans; Multipotent Stem Cells - cytology; Multipotent Stem Cells - metabolism; Neural differentiation; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - metabolism; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Unrestricted somatic stem cell; Dopamine-associated genes; Cord blood; Neural differentiation; Unrestricted somatic stem cell
• ISSN: 1065-6995; 1095-8355; 1095-8355
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cellbi.2006.11.011

An intensive study is underway to evaluate different potential candidates for cell therapy of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Availability and lower immunogenicity compared to other sources for stem cell therapy such as bone marrow have made human umbilical cord blood stem cells a considerable source for cell therapy. The present study aimed to investigate differentiation of recently introduced pluripotent cord blood stem cells, known as unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSCs), into cells with neural features in serum-withdrawal medium. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry assays, we have shown the expression of neuron-specific genes following a 2 week treatment of USSCs in serum-withdrawal induction medium. In addition, we have found that USSCs and USSC-derived neuron-like cells express transcripts of genes associated with development and/or survival of dopaminergic mesencephalic neurons including En1, En2, Nurr1, Ptx3, Pax2, Wnt1 and Wnt3a. The expression of dopamine-associated genes suggests that these cells may be potential candidates to be used for cell therapy of PD.