Astragalus induces human amniotic epithelial cells (WISH) to differentiate toward neurons, inhibits the expression of Notch1 and promotes cell survival / 生理学报

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of astragalus on differentiation of human amniotic epithelial cell line WISH into neurons, the expression of Notch1 gene and cell viability. WISH were randomly divided into astragalus group (4 subgroups), alltransretinoic acid (RA) group and control group. Astragalus group and RA group were induced to differentiate into neurocytes by using chemical inducer RA and astragalus, respectively. The expression of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP-2), Nestin and GFAP of induced cells in three groups were detected using immunocytochemical method. RT- PCR was further used to detect the expression of Oct4, Notch1, Hes1, Nestin and NSE. The cell viability was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium methods. Under the convert microscope it was observed that WISH cells started to change their shape, and there were several axon or dendrite-like processes out from the cell body induced by astragalus for 24 h or RA for 12 h. The positive cell rates of NSE and MAP-2 in 100 μL/mL astragalus-induced group were less than those in RA-induced group at 48 h (P < 0.05), but higher than those in control group. Cell viability in astragalus group was higher than that of RA group (P < 0.05). While the positive cell rates of Nestin and GFAP in 100 μL/mL astragalus-induced group were higher than those in RA-induced group at 48 h (P < 0.05). The positive cell rates of Nestin in the two induced groups were lower than those in control group. RT-PCR showed that the expressions of Oct4, Notch1 and Hes1 in RA and astragalus (100 μL/mL) groups were less than those in control group, but the expression of NSE was higher than that in control group. These results suggest that astragalus (especially at 100 μL/mL, 48 h) and RA can both induce human amniotic epithelial cell line WISH cells into neuron-like cells, but astragalus induction has a higher cell survival rate than RA induction, and the expression of Notch1 signal molecules is inhibited during the induction.